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1114 N. College Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47404
 

812.332.3643
fax 812.339.5595

TOLL FREE:
 (877) SHEANLAW
(877-743-2652)



How to Keep
Your Children Safe
at Home
at School
and in a Car

 

AT HOME

Injuries are the Number 1 cause of death among children.

You can prevent injuries at home:

Install latches on lower cabinets
Keep safety caps on chemicals
If your child should swallow something toxic, call the

Bicycle Safety

When your child learns to ride a bicycle, be sure a bicycling helmet is  worn.
Oversized bicycles are dangerous.
Be sure your child can sit on the seat and hold the handlebars while touching the ground with the balls of both feet.
When you think your child is ready to ride a bicycle in the street, be sure these basic rules are followed:

Wear a helmet.
Respect traffic signals.
Never allow your child to ride a bike at night.  Night riding requires special skills and special equipment.

Drowning is the Number 2 cause of death among children

Never allow your child to swim without an adult watching. 
Do not let young children or children who cannot swim use inflatable toys and mattresses in water that is above the waist. 
Teach your child to swim when they are ready (usually about five years of age). 
Do not leave a child unattended while in water. 
Do not allow children to play in the bathroom or leave a child alone in the bathtub.

 
AT SCHOOL

According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, an estimated 2.2 million children ages 14 and under are injured in school or on the playground.

Accidents can be prevented

• Check the playground equipment at school.  Report any broken or rusty equipment.
• Teach proper playground behavior.
• No pushing or shoving.

Traveling to and from school
• If your child walks to school or to a bus stop, plan the most direct route and use intersections with crossing guards, if available.
• If you drive children to school, be sure to drop them off as close as possible to the school entrance and wait until they enter the school.
 
Teach your child
• Never take candy or anything from a stranger
• Never take a ride from a stranger.
 

IN A CAR

Motor vehicles are the Number 1 cause of death from injury among children.

Safety tips:
• Use a safety car seat EVERY time your child is in a car and make sure the seat is installed correctly. 
• Infants should always ride rear-facing until they are one year of age and they weigh at least 20 pounds.  It is best to have children ride rear-facing in a car seat as long as possible.
• Use a booster seat for larger children.  Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats.
• The safest place for a child is in the back seat.

 

Sources for this brochure are from Back-To-School
Safety Tips from Readers Digest, American Academy
of Pediatrics, and the U.S. Product
Safety Commission. Visit these
websites for more information.