ESCAPING ENTRAPMENT
1. Don’t put necklaces or headbands on your baby or dress your child in clothes with drawstrings, which can get caught on play equipment and furniture and strangle your child.

2. Avoid letting long telephone cords or wires dangle to the floor.

3. Tie all window blinds and drapery cords, or cut the ends and attach safety tassels and fit the inner cords of blinds with cord stops.

4. Never place an infant face-down on soft surfaces such as a waterbed, comforter, rug, or mattress cover; or on a cot or bed with soft bedding, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and plush toys.

5. Ensure that you remove the plastic covering from a new mattress or pillow before using it.

6. Dispose of plastic bags of any kind and tie several knots on each bag before throwing it out.

AVOID CHOKING
Choking is usually caused by food, toys and other small objects. Encourage children to sit when eating and to chew thoroughly. Teach them to chew and swallow their food before talking or laughing. Clean up promptly and check the floor for dropped foods that can cause choking. Don’t give a child under age four any hard, smooth foods that can partially or completely block the windpipe, such as nuts and seeds of any type, fruits with seeds or piths, raw carrots, peas or celery, popcorn, hard candy, raw apples or pears and caramel. Always follow manufacturer’s age recommendations when buying toys. Some toys have small parts that can cause choking. Check toys frequently for loose or broken parts like a stuffed animal’s loose eye or a broken plastic hinge. Store glass objects, such as drinking glasses, plates and bowls; and kitchen appliances with sharp blades far from child’s reach. Make sure that the children do not put pencils, crayons or erasers in their mouths when coloring or drawing.

MEDICATIONS
1. Don’t give medication to a child in the dark; you may give the wrong dosage or even the wrong medication.

2. Do not leave vitamin bottles, aspirin bottles or other medications on kitchen tables, countertops, bedside tables, or dresser tops.

3. Be aware of all medications in your home.

POISONOUS CHEMICALS
1. Insect repellents, cockroach powders or rat poison should never be placed on the floors of your home.

2. Don’t keep any cleaning supplies, including detergents and dishwashing liquids, under the sink.

3. Use safety latches for all cabinets containing hazardous substances.

4. When you’re cleaning or using household chemicals, never leave the bottles unattended.

5. Keep cosmetics and toiletries out of the reach of children.

6. Keep your child away from houseplants and plants around your yard. Toxic houseplants include rhododendron, English ivy, lily of the valley and holiday plants such as holly and mistletoe.

Be aware of your child's surroundings and what might be potentially dangerous. Educate yourself and other caregivers including baby sitters, servants, nannies, grandparents, aunts and uncles about how to perform basic first-aid and CPR.