50 Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy

Fun in the Sun!

• Wear sunscreen, hats and sun protection clothing
• Keep children well hydrated
• Cover and fence pools/keep a phone and emergency numbers close
• Always supervise children around any water, from oceans and pools to bathtubs and buckets.

A Shot at Better Health

• Check your child’s records to ensure that immunizations are up-to-date and keep a copy of those records.

Driving Forces in Car Safety

• Make sure your child is in the right seat; check for proper seat installation.
• Never leave a child unattended in a car.
• Always check behind your car before leaving
• Make sure automatic garage doors have safety mechanisms to re-open immediately, if necessary.
• Be a good example; buckle up!

The “Spoke”n Word

• Wear a helmet. It’s the law for anyone under 18.
• Ride a bike that’s the right size and keep it in good working condition.
• Do not wear headphones. It’s important to be able to hear horns and other traffic noise.

Home is Where the Health is

• Check bath water with before placing a child in a tub. Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use corner guards on furniture edges and blind cord shorteners to prevent strangulation hazards.
• Tack down loose carpet to avoid unnecessary falls.
• Porches, balconies and stairs should have guardrails; install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways.

Gun Safety

• Store gun and ammunition separately in locked containers.

What’s Cooking?

• Check for food and drink “hot spots” before giving them to children. Food can heat unevenly.
• Keep electrical appliances away from water and out of reach of children.
• When cooking, keep handles on cookware turned inward.

Falling Down

• Create barriers. Lock doors to dangerous areas, open windows from the top or use window guards; screens will not prevent a fall.
• Watch furniture placement. Keep furniture away from windows. Secure big pieces of furniture – especially bookcases and entertainment centers – to the wall.
• Be careful with baby walkers. If you choose to use one, be sure it has a wide base, and never leave the child unattended in the walker.

Poisoned Pens!

• Store dangerous household products out of reach of children.
• Store all products in their original containers with the labels intact.
• Keep the California Poison Control Center hotline near the phone.

Hot Tips

• Check your detectors and change the batteries twice a year.
• Create a fire evacuation plan for your family.
• Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home.
• Do not smoke in your home.

Playground Safety

• Dress for playground safety. Avoid clothing with drawstrings at the head or neck area or loose clothing. Tie up long hair. Always wear shoes.
• Check for playground safeness: a soft, deep surface of sand, pea gravel or wood chips and hot metal surface, jagged edges or broken pieces.

Better Health by the Numbers

• Keep emergency phone numbers by EVERY phone, as well as having a copy in your car and office.
• Know the location of the hospital and/or urgent care center closest to your home.

Emergency Decisions

• Take your child to the ED only when the injury is life or limb threatening. Loss of consciousness, poisoning, bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure are good reasons to go. Earaches, sprains or rash are generally not.
• If possible, call the ED before you go. By talking to a triage nurse, you can find if it’s better to come to ED or call 911.
• Note the phone numbers and addresses for Children’s East County, North County and Mid-City Urgent Care Centers. They are open until 10 p.m. for after-hours needs. If you don’t live in these areas, research what is available close to your home.

Testing! Testing!

• Schedule physical exams every year.
• Check hearing every year age 3-12, then at age 15 and 18.
• Checking vision every year age 3-12, then at age 15 and 18.

What, Me Worry?

• Set realistic expectations for development. See our child development section and check with your pediatrician.

Brushing Up on a Healthy Smile

• Don’t put your baby in bed with a bottle.
• Start dental visits at age three; then twice a year for a check-up and cleaning.
• Using a soft toothbrush, help your child brush for two minutes twice a day, including right before bed.

The Skinny on Obesity

• Make activity part of your lifestyle. Have your child learn a new sport or take the dog for a daily 30-minute walk.
• Limit or change snacks. Make sure you have only healthy choices in the house.

Being a Good Sport

• Choose the right sport for your child.
• Warm up and suit up! Make sure children warm up before playing sports and that they wear the correct protective gear for sports.
• Have a plan for when injuries occur.