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Taking Care of Your Child's Health
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Safety Guidelines
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Be a role model for your child - have regular check-ups, eat healthy, exercise, and do not smoke.
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Know CPR, care for choking, and first-aid basics. Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, offer courses in child and infant CPR.
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Make sure your child has regular check-ups and immunizations.
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Put safety first. Know how to safety proof your home and your child's environment - the best treatment for injuries is prevention.
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Provide a healthy diet and regular exercise for your child. Helping your child stay healthy and strong may help minimize problems when they do occur.
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Install safety devices in your home such as smoke detectors, handrails, stairway gates, and fire extinguishers. Cover electrical outlets, as needed.
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Teach your child to wash his/her hands well, especially before meals and after using the toilet.
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Place medicines, cleaners, chemicals and potential poisons out of your child's reach. Install safety locks on cabinets that contain dangerous or sharp items.
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Never leave a baby or young child alone - not even for a moment.
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Develop a fire escape plan and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of a fire.
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Put babies to sleep on their backs or sides until they can turn over by themselves.
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If you must keep a gun in the home, make sure it is unloaded and store it in a locked cabinet. Lock ammunition in a separate place.
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Supervise your child and make sure he/she takes part in age-appropriate activities.
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Wear your seat belts and make sure your child uses an approved car safety seat or seat belt that has been installed properly.
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Help your child learn how to handle anger and stress in appropriate ways.
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Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy, including your local emergency medical services (EMS), your child's physician or healthcare provider, police, fire departments, and your local poison center.
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Learn about your child's school, friends, and environment. Be on the look-out for unsafe behaviors and be ready to intervene if they occur.
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Teach your child how to dial 911 or your local EMS system in case of an emergency.
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Teach your child how to be safe- at home, at school, and with play and sports activities.
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Keep a well stocked first-aid kit handy at home and in the car.
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Make sure sitters and other childcare providers know the appropriate safety and first-aid measures to take in the event of an emergency.
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