Accidents can happen to anyone, sometimes even under Dad’s watchful eye. The most important thing dads can do to keep their children safe is stay informed about how they are most likely to get hurt. Even though most children do not get seriously injured from these everyday accidents, it is important to know what dangers they face and what Dad can do to help avoid them. This is where the Safety Tips for Dads fact sheets from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse come in to play. They draw on data from the National Center for Injury Protection and Control to provide information about the most common and dangerous kinds of accidents for four different age groups: infants under 1 year, ages 1 to 4 years, ages 5 to 14 years, and ages 15 to 19 years.
For infants, it is important for dads to be particularly cognizant of suffocation risks. Accounting for 82 percent of deaths, suffocation is the leading cause of accidental deaths among infants younger than one year. Tips for avoiding injuries to infants include making sure babies have their own bed or crib and never leaving a baby alone in the bath or the car.
Between the ages of 1 and 4, toddlers and preschoolers are beginning to explore their surroundings. This can mean a few bumps and bruises along the way. In fact, 61 percent of accidental injuries treated in emergency rooms for this age group are the result of falls and collisions. Dads can reduce the risk of injury to their toddlers by closely supervising young children, especially when they are near places they could fall. Other safety tips include teaching children clear and simple safety rules about crossing the street and “toddler-proofing” the home with padding and stair gates.
To Read More on Additional School Age Children —-> https://www.fatherhood.gov
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
