Prevention of physical injuries in girls and boys:
Children during their development need to actively explore their environment.
Therefore, it is natural for them to observe, touch, grasp, put in their mouths, taste, ingest, examine, disassemble, hit and throw objects.
Also, as motor development progresses, they begin to move under their own power.
Initially, with the dragging and crawling; then they walk, run, jump, climb and swim. In older ages they use tricycles, bicycles, cars and other children's vehicles.
In the absence of adequate supervision by caregivers, these activities could lead to accidents and physical injuries.
Prevention of unintentional physical injuries:
“Prevention is better than cure”, this phrase sums up and expresses the ideal when it comes to avoiding physical injuries.
Some general measures to prevent accidents in children are:
- Take them in the back seats of the vehicles, with their respective seat and seat belt .
- Use special lids for medicines , with lock, which are not easy to open.
- Install non-slip floors.
- Install smoke detectors.
- Use plug protectors.
- Store dangerous substances such as soaps or poisons in a locked place out of the reach of children.
- A complementary strategy is to walk around the house in a crawling position.
- This makes it possible to detect hazards that would otherwise go unnoticed. For example: sockets behind tables and shelves that are never used.
At any of the ages, nothing replaces the presence of a committed and attentive adult with safety. Many times, accidents happen when adults are distracted, not paying attention to injury prevention. Remember that accidents happen in the blink of an eye.
Prevention of physical injuries by age range:
Newly born:
Newborns are in special vulnerable conditions that require greater care by adults.
Some dangerous situations to be aware of are:
1- asphyxia:
- Drowning or near drowning is one of the most frequent situations during this period.
- Special care should be taken at bath time; the depth of the water cannot exceed 4 centimeters.
- Blankets, pillows, cushions, and toys should be avoided in bed as they can cause suffocation or suffocation.
- Newborns should not sleep in the same bed with their parents, but in a crib close to them They should lie face up.
- Pets should not sleep in the same bed.
2- falls:
- To avoid them, the crib must have a mattress that is well adjusted to the edges of the bed.
- Also, it must have railings of more than 60 centimeters in height.
- The separation of the bars should not exceed 6 centimeters.
3- Other accidents:
- Shaking babies roughly or throwing them up can cause bleeding from intracranial blood vessels. These activities should not be performed.
- At bath time, the temperature of the water should be monitored. Burns from very hot water are common at this stage.
- The use of mittens or booties can compress the vessels and hinder blood circulation. For this reason its use is not recommended. However, in babies with some pathologies it is necessary to use these garments. If this is the case, it is important to make sure they are not tight and constantly monitor circulation. Also, monitor the temperature of the member where it is placed, it should not be cold or change color.
- Rings, bracelets and chains should not be used on newborns because they can become entangled with other objects and cause injury.
Infants: (age between one month of birth and two years):
- asphyxia:
Take into account the following recommendations:
- Accompany babies during the bath. NEVER leave them alone.
- Avoid play with very small objects and pieces of broken rubber balloons.
- Babies should not play with objects that can be easily disassembled and put in their mouths.
- Do not offer fruits with seeds or small, hard foods, such as peanuts. The small caliber of the airway in babies can cause choking.
1- falls:
Take into account the following recommendations:
- Do not neglect babies during diaper changes.
- Keep floors dry and free of obstacles. Use non-slip mats on smooth floors.
- Protect terraces, windows and other high places.
- Avoid the use of walkers.
- Playpens should not be near curtains, ropes, wires, or anything that babies can use to climb out.
2- Burns:
- They are common especially in the kitchen . Therefore, this place should not be a children's playground. Cooktop pots and pans should be placed on the cooktop with the handles facing backwards.
- Before offering any drinks to babies, assess the temperature .
- It is necessary to previously test everything that is offered to the child to feel the temperature.
- When hot food is transported, notify the other adults in the house. Place hot food in the center of the table.
- Other burn hazards include: bath water, fire, electricity, hot irons, and flammable liquids. Electrical injuries can be prevented by ensuring the proper functioning of electrical installations and appliances. Plugs must be protected to prevent children from inserting their fingers.
- Fire burns can be prevented by keeping lighters, matches, and flammable liquids in safe places.
- Avoid leaving candles or candles lit.
- Gunpowder as fun should only be used by experienced people.
3- Other accidents:
In infants, the risk of poisoning due to drug ingestion must be taken into account . Also, caution should be exercised with poisons.
These should be stored out of reach and packaged securely.
"Children are unpredictable and reckless, watching over them is our duty as parents and caregivers"
