Preventing Unintentional Injuries Overview

How to prevent unintentional injuries

Many unintentional injuries and emergencies can be prevented by reevaluating your family's environment, lifestyles, and risks. Early detection and a prompt response is crucial in keeping situations manageable, and from becoming an emergency.

It is important to be alert and to follow a program designed to help you and your family stay safe.

Follow safety rules and guidelines:

• Supervise all children's activities, especially swimming.

• Install safety devices in your home, such as smoke detectors, hand rails, and fire extinguishers.

• Maintain heating equipment, and unplug supplemental heaters when sleeping.

• Develop and practice using a fire escape route and plan, and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of emergency.

• Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahreinheit (49 degrees Celsius) or below to prevent scald burns.

• Wear appropriate safety equipment at home, work, or play.

• Always insist that all passengers are wearing seat belts, and that children are restrained in car seats properly.

• Make sure small children are always seated in the rear seat.

• Read and understand the labels on medications and food products.

• Store medications and potential poisons in a safe place, away from children.

• Keep a well-stocked, first-aid kit at home, work, and in the car.

• Keep a list of emergency numbers in your home, business, and place of play, including the police, fire department, poison control center, local emergency service (if different than 911), local hospital, and family doctor.