Doctor’s Orders: Essential Safety Tips for Kids

**Protect your kids with these pediatrician approved safety tips**

As parents and caregivers, keeping our children safe is always a top priority. Keeping your kids safe is a full time job! While bumps and bruises are a normal part of growing up, many childhood injuries can be prevented with the right precautions. Here’s a pediatrician-approved guide to injury prevention and safety for kids of all ages.

1. Car & Road Safety: Keeping Kids Secure on the Go

Car seats & boosters: Use the correct seat for your child’s age, height, and weight, and ensure proper installation.
Seat belts: Teach children to always wear seat belts and sit in the back seat until at least age 13.
Pedestrian safety: Teach kids to use crosswalks, look both ways before crossing, and never run into the street.
Bike & scooter safety: Ensure children wear helmets and follow traffic rules when riding.

2. Home Safety: Creating a Safe Environment

Baby-proofing: Secure furniture to walls, use safety gates, and cover electrical outlets.
Fall prevention: Keep stairways clear, install window guards, and ensure rugs have non-slip backing.
Burn prevention: Set water heaters to 120°F (49°C) or lower, use back burners on stoves, and keep hot liquids out of reach.
Poison prevention: Store medications, cleaning supplies, and chemicals in locked cabinets.
Fire & Carbon Monoxide safety: Install smoke & carbon monoxide detectors, have a family plan and meeting place for a fire, and keep lighters/matches out of reach.

3. Water Safety: Preventing Drowning & Water Accidents

Supervision: Never leave children unattended near water, including bathtubs, pools, and lakes.
Pool safety: Install secure fencing around pools with self-latching gates.
Swimming skills: Enroll children in swimming lessons and teach basic water survival skills.
Life jackets: Ensure children wear life jackets when boating or near open water.

4. Playground & Sports Safety: Injury Prevention in Play

Proper gear: Ensure kids wear helmets, pads, and other protective equipment for sports and physical activities.
Safe surfaces: Choose playgrounds with soft surfaces like mulch, rubber, or sand to reduce fall impact.
Supervision: Keep an eye on young children while they play to prevent falls or accidents.
Hydration & rest: Encourage water breaks and allow time for proper recovery to prevent overuse injuries.

5. Stranger Danger & Online Safety: Protecting Kids in the Real & Digital World

Awareness: Teach children to never talk to or go anywhere with strangers without a trusted adult.
Safe interactions: Use code words for emergency situations and discuss safe vs. unsafe touch.
Online safety: Educate kids on the dangers of sharing personal information online.
Cyberbullying prevention: Encourage open conversations about online interactions and how to report harmful behavior.

6. Teen Safety & Risk Prevention: Guiding Adolescents Toward Smart Choices

Driving safety: Reinforce safe driving habits, including seat belt use and no texting while driving.
Substance awareness: Talk to teens about the risks of drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure.
Social safety: Encourage open dialogue about dating, consent, and mental health support.
Curfew & communication: Establish clear expectations for curfews and check-ins when out with friends.

While accidents can happen, proactive safety measures significantly reduce the risk of serious injury. By implementing these pediatrician-recommended safety tips, you can help create a secure environment where your child can grow, explore, and thrive safely.