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Anyone who has children knows that kids will be kids. They will play hard, and sometimes, they will fall hard. As much as parents and caregivers want to shield their children from the slips and falls of life, accidents do happen. Ft. Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey know that the injuries children can sustain after an accident can range from minor bruises and scrapes to broken bones or worse. Safekids.org provides numerous tips for keeping toddlers and children of all ages as safe as possible.

Keeping Toddlers Safe

Younger children between 1 and 4 years old typically have an enormous amount of energy and they are often quite curious too. They will put just about any and everything in their mouths in an effort to discover what’s going on around them. Sure, that’s the way toddlers begin to learn about various things. Still, parents have to constantly be on alert when they have toddlers because there are often a number of choking hazards in and out of the home.

That said, some of the top tips for protecting toddlers from choking include cutting their food into very small pieces, keeping small objects out of sight and reach, and thoroughly checking any games and toys prior to purchasing, as they may have small pieces that could lead to choking.

Protecting the Bigger Children

Older children ranging from age 5 to 9 years old tend to be more adventurous and want to explore more things on the outside rather than inside the home. Such an exploratory nature can ultimately lead to all types of injuries. Kids this age enjoy being playful outside in the park and on the playground. That being the case, there are a number of tips parents should keep in mind as their children venture outside more and more.

For instance, if you know your child likes to play at the playground near your home, you are encouraged to check the playground for potential harms and dangerous surfaces, as well as broken equipment. Also ensure that the equipment is appropriate for your child. Any hazards should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Also, parents are advised to dress their children appropriately for the playground, being sure to avoid clothing with drawstrings or dangling pieces that can get caught on the equipment and lead to potential strangulation issues. Parents should also ensure that the playground has some sort of impact-absorbing material, rather than concrete, asphalt or other hard materials that can do greater harm if a child falls.

The Pre-Teen and Teen Years

I’m sure we all remember those “awkward” years. Some of us went through the “it won’t happen to me” phase, while others of us figured that we “knew it all” and could look out for ourselves. Given the number of distractions today, children in this age bracket are at greater risk of pedestrian injuries than ever before.

A few important tips to share with your pre-teens relate to their role as a pedestrian. Children should be reminded to always cross the street at a crosswalk (where one exists), and be sure to pay close attention to traffic signals, especially at intersections. Additionally, they should always walk on a sidewalk or a designated pathway.

If your teen has a cell phone, you are encouraged to teach him or her to find a safe place in which to use it, making sure to stop walking while they hold a conversation (at least until such time as they can totally focus on the roadway ahead if they’re approaching an intersection).

These are just a few tips for parents to help keep their children safe. If your child has sustained injuries in an accident on a playground or elsewhere, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. right away to learn how we can help you.