1000 SW Jackson Suite 230
Topeka, KS 66612-1274
(785) 296-1223
(785) 296-8649 (FAX)

Coordinator:
Jan Stegelman

Executive Committee:
Randall Bolin
NHTSA Region VII

Dennis Cooley, MD
Medical Advisor
American Academy of
Pediatrics, Kansas
Chapter

John Drees
Douglas County
SAFE KIDS Coalition

John Halbran
Kansas Safety Belt
Education Office

Jim Keating
Kansas State
Firefighters Association

Elena Nuss
Kansas State
Fire Marshal's Office

Cindy Samuelson
Kansas Hospital Association

September is Baby Safety Month

Safe Kids Kansas offers baby safety tips

September is Baby Safety Month, and Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents and caregivers to plan ahead to make safe spaces for babies "at home, at play and on the way."

"One of the most important things parents can do to childproof the home is to see the home through their child's eyes," says Jan Stegelman, Coordinator of Safe Kids Kansas. "Parents should get down on their hands and knees and literally crawl around every room in the house. It is also important to understand that childproofing can never be 100 percent effective. That's why it's so important to actively supervise your children at all times."

Basic safety tips for kids ages 0-3 include:

• In the nursery: Remove pillows, soft bedding and toys from crib; put your baby "back to sleep" (face up) on a firm mattress. Keep cribs away from windows and furniture. Install guards on windows that you will open, and tie up cords on curtains and blinds. Install smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas. Install safety gates at top and bottom of stairs.
• In the kitchen: Never leave a hot stove unattended. Keep hot liquids, poisons and electrical cords out of reach, and keep cleaning products and other poisons locked out of reach. Don't let children under age three eat small, round or hard foods such as hot dogs, grapes, hard candy, nuts or popcorn.
• In the bath: Mix hot and cold water together, and test the temperature before putting the baby in the water. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees to help prevent scalding. Never leave a baby alone in the bath.
• On the playground: Actively supervise children on the playground - be within arm's reach. Avoid playgrounds with asphalt surfaces. Don't let kids wear jewelry or drawstring clothes on the playground. Pools should be fenced on all four sides and have self-closing gates.
• In the car: Children under 13 should always ride in the back seat in proper restraints. Babies under one year old and 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat, reclined at a 45-degree angle. Always check the harness for proper fit.

Baby Safety Month is an annual observance led by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association since 1991. For more information, visit www.jpma.org. For more information about baby safety topics such as childproofing, scalding, playground safety, drowning prevention and child passenger safety, visit www.safekids.org.

Safe Kids Kansas, Inc. is a nonprofit Coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing accidental injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellis, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marion, Meade, Montgomery, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Republic, Rice, Riley, Saline, Smith, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Wilson and Woodson Counties, as well as the cities of Chanute, Leavenworth, Norton, Pittsburg, the Wichita Area and the Metro Kansas City Area. Safe Kids Kansas a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury.

www.kansassafekids.org