• Use a a booster seat until your car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (when your child weighs about 80lbs and is 4ft 9in tall) in the back seat and never place your child in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag. Once your child has outgrown his booster seat, you should make sure he is buckled up in the back seat with a lap and shoulder harness at all times. See our Car Seat Safety Guide for more information.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers, toys and cribs, etc., haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up-to-date list of recalled products (800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov).
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater between 120 and 130 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Have an escape plan in case of fire in your home, use flame retardant sleepwear and teach your child about fire safety (never play with matches, etc.)
• See the Lead Poisoning Guide or take our Lead Screening Quiz to see if your child is at risk for lead poisoning.
• Maintain smoke free environments for your children.
• Be prepared by knowing your local poison center's phone number and keep it posted with a list of emergency numbers by your phone.
• Avoid exposing your children to too much sun (use sunscreen).
• If you must have a gun in the house keep it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German shepherds) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• Teach them how to dial 911 (if available in your area).
• Teach pedestrian safety, including crossing the street at the corner (with an adult if possilbe), not running in the street, to look both ways before crossing and teach them the meaning of the colors of traffic lights.
• Teach playground safety (including not playing on trampolines).
• Teach stranger awareness, including that a stranger is someone that they don't know, to never get into a car with a stranger and never take anything from a stranger. You should review scenarios that predators may use, including offering candy or toys to get in the car, asking to help look for a lost pet, or being told they are picking your child up because you are sick.
• Always wear a bicycle helmet and avoid bicycling near traffic.
• New! Do not allow your child to ride in the cargo area of a pick up truck, even if it is enclosed. In an accident, children in the back of a pick up truck have little protection from serious injury or death.
• Practice sports safety: teach your child to always wear all of the appropriate safety equipment made for each sport (helmets, mouth guards, pads, etc.), including certified eye-protective devices when playing paintball.
• New! Injuries related to using a scooter are up 700% this year, especially fractures and dislocations. If you child has a scooter, be sure that he uses the proper safety equipment, including a helmet and knee and elbow pads.
• Supervise your child's use of the computer (a child at this age should not have unsupervised access to the Internet), computer games, movies, and know what they have access to at their friend's homes.
• Be a good example for your child by always using a seat belt, helmet, etc.

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