As we all know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Nowhere is that more evident than during an emergency involving a child. Each day in the US approximately 8 children under the age of four will die from an accidental injury. According to the NHTSA, the risk of death for children can be reduced by up to 70% with the use of car seats. Approximately 400 children die each year as a result of a bicycle accident. Prevention is so easy in so many ways. You can help save children's lives through the use of bicycle helmets and car seats. In keeping with that line of thinking, you can do a lot to prevent childhood injuries by taking some simple steps toward safety.

The use of bicycle helmets has become so accepted of late that a child without one looks out of place. These can greatly reduce the chance of a head injury during an accident. Helmets should be used not only for bicycles, but also for scooters,

skateboards, in-line skates and all-terrain vehicles. In many parts of the country, helmets are available at greatly reduced rates, or in some cases even free to those who need them. Ensure your child's helmet fits their head snugly and the chin strap is tight but not restrictive. Make it a rule to wear helmets during any type of "wheeled" activity. Information on helmet safety programs can usually be obtained by calling your pediatrician, local fire department, EMS agency or children's hospital.

Car seats have become standard issue in any vehicle a child rides in. The recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics is that children under the age of 12 ride in the back seat. They further recommend infants under 1 year and 20 pounds ride in a car seat facing backwards. Children older than one year and 20-40 pounds should be restrained in a forward facing car seat. Once a child reaches the upper weight limit of their car seat, and their ears reach the top of their car seat, they are ready for a booster seat. Children should ride in a booster seat until they reach the height of 4'9" and the age 8-12.

You can make your home safer by child-proofing it. This is another important step in child safety. It is important to get down to your child's level and see what the world looks like from their perspective. Everything from the drapery pulls to the dog food can become a potential safety hazard. Here is a in use can help prevent electrocution. In older homes, installing ground fault interrupt (GFI) outlets is also a good idea. Newer homes usually have them. Use "Mr. Yuck" stickers to identify all potentially poisonous materials and ensure these hazards are kept away from children. You can purchase cabinet and drawer locks relatively inexpensively at your local hardware store. These enable an adult to open them, just not a child.

We all too often see the headline "Child Drowns While Parents Take a Break" or see a TV program about a child drowning while on a day care outing. Here are some simple common sense things to remember about kids and water.

Teach your child to swim and, if you don't know how, learn right along with them. Most local pools start swimming lessons around the age of 2. Although your child may learn the skills, you should never leave them unattended near or in a pool. If your child is missing, check the pool FIRST!

If you have a pool, put a gate around it. A self-closing/locking fence with openings of less than 4 inches will help prevent a child's unwanted access to the pool area. In addition to keeping your child safe, this may reduce your homeowner's insurance rates. Also, don't place furniture close to the fence. Children may climb over it to get to the pool. If you have a pool, keep basic lifesaving equipment close by. At a minimum you should have access to a pole, rope and flotation devices. When you are out enjoying time in the water with your child, make sure there is a phone close to the pool, just in case.

Pools aren't the only drowning risk to children. We hear over and over again about the child that drowned in the bathtub while the parent ran to answer the phone. Due to their proportionally large head size, children can drown in just a few inches of water. NEVER leave a child or infant unattended in a bathtub. Another concern is buckets or pails of water. Children, with their curious nature, want to explore to see what is in the pail. Again, their head size comes into play and may cause them to loose their balance and fall into the pail. Lastly, stay current and confident with your first aid and CPR skills. You never know when you'll need them or who's life you may be able to save.

The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous rooms in your house when it comes to child safety. Anyone who is responsible for a child's safety must have a good understanding of the risks of burns and fire in the kitchen. Here is a list of do's and don'ts for kitchen safety:

• Any hot liquid (140 degrees) can burn skin in 5 seconds. At 160 degrees it will burn in 1 second. Keep children and hot liquids a safe distance apart by placing hot liquids away from the edge of the counter top.

• Avoid using tablecloths whenever possible. Children can pull them off the table and bring whatever is on them crashing down.
  -Use extra caution when cooking with hot oil or grease. As temperatures rise above 400 degrees, they will instantly cause serious burns.
   

• Make sure your appliance cords are away from the edge of the counter top. A dangling cord can present an obvious danger.

• Don't store things like cookies and snacks above the stove. Children can be tempted to climb over the stove to get to the goodies.
   

• Store all chemicals and dangerous goods out of reach or in a locked cabinet. Also, try to purchase household chemicals that are less toxic.
   

• One of the best things you can do is establish a "safe zone" in your kitchen. This area should be where they can be constantly seen and away from risk. Another area called a "do not enter zone" should be established around the stove or other dangerous appliances.
   

• Burning candles, although enjoyable to some, are definitely a risk to children. The flickering flame and hot, runny wax create a two-fold risk.

Kids, by nature, are very inquisitive but lack the life experience to draw upon when making decision. Help them out by asking yourself, "What else can l do to make my surroundings safer for children?"

In the year 2000, approximately 3400 people died from residential fires. Another 17,000 were injured. Most fire victims die from inhaling smoke and toxic gases. Knowing what to do in case of a fire can save your family's life. One of the most important things you can do is plan an escape route before a fire occurs. This simple set of instructions for you and your family can help you get out alive. If at all possible, you need two exits from every room. This includes windows and doors.

Practice getting out through the various exits in the house. Set up a meeting place a safe distance from the house. You can purchase and install retractable ladders which attach to the outside of your house and make egress from a second story window very easy. Take time to practice fire drills at night. It takes much longer to wake up, realize what's going on and then follow the identified plan. That also gives you the opportunity to find out if you have "deep sleepers" in the house who don't wake up to smoke detectors.

If you sense a fire or smell smoke in your home, get down on your hands and knees and stay down while attempting to get out.

remember, smoke and heat rise. so by staying close to the ground you will be able to survive longer. With the back of your band, feet doors for heat before opening them. If you don't sense heat, open the door carefully. If there is smoke present in the room, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth and try to get out. Consumer grade smoke hoods are also available are highly recommended. The can allow you time to escape a fire. If you see smoke and fire in another room, close the door and exit through an alternate route. If you are trapped in a building, such as an office or hotel during a fire, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. Keep the doors closed to keep smoke and fire out. To further seal the doors, wedge wet towels in the openings around the door. Wide duct tape will also serve this purpose.

2. Close as many doors as possible between you and the fire. If there is a window in the room, stay by it and wait for fire department personnel to help you.

3. Be very careful when opening a window. This can change the air pressure in a room and force smoke inside. Only open windows to let in fresh air or attract attention. If smoke begins to enter the room, close the window immediately. Only break the window if absolutely necessary, as there is no way to seal up the open window once it is broken.

4. If there is a phone in the room, department know where you are. use it. If not, yell out the window to let the fire department know where you are.

Since most fatal fires occur at night, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are your best defenses in helping you get out of a fire alive. Carbon monoxide is the by-product of fire and levels can be detected long before smoke rises to the ceiling. During a fire, carbon monoxide is the deadly element working against you. The only problem with these detectors is the people who own them. They are too often installed in the wrong rooms or the batteries aren't working. The basic recommendations for smoke detectors are:

• In each sleeping area and the hallways connecting them
   
• At the top of each stairway
   
• At the normal exits
   
• Change smoke detector batteries at least once a year
   
• Test your smoke detectors every 3 months
   
• Establish a home fire escape plan
   
• Educate children about the sounds a smoke detector makes
   
• Consult local fire department about smoke detector information

Fire extinguishers are a cost-effective, easy method to prevent the spread of fire in your home, office or auto. All public buildings are required to have fire extinguishers and have them serviced regularly. i Unfortunately, the people who work or visit these buildings are not required to be trained how to use them.

There are several types and I sizes of extinguishers. Class A I,, fire extinguishers are designed i to put out fires started with paper, cloth or wood debris and may contain water. Class B extinguishers are to be used for flammable liquids, oil and grease and are filled with dry chemicals, foam, C02 or halon. Class C fire extinguishers are designed to fight fires involving electrical equipment and contain dry chemicals, C02 or halon. If this all seems confusing to you, have faith. The type recommended to have in your home is a Class A-B-C extinguisher which is designed to fight any of the above fires and is the one most effective for home use. Class A-B-C is designed to be all-purpose. Make sure you have an extinguisher large enough to fight a fire in your home. It is also a good idea to have one in your vehicle and in your garage or shop.

The proper method of using a fire extinguisher can be remembered with the acronym PASS.

Always remember to stand far enough away from the fire to prevent yourself from getting burned but close enough to extinguish the fire. The most common mistake when fighting fire is discharging the extinguisher too soon and not having enough chemicals to fight the fire. When not used, fire extinguishers should be serviced at least every year. This can be done at many safety supply stores. Check with your local fire department for more information on the type, size and use of fire extinguishers.

Since the events of September 11th, Americans have become much more aware of the need to prepare for the unexpected. Disasters come in many forms; earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, volcanic eruptions and terrorist activities. The time to prepare for an emergency is now ...prior to it actually happening.

This section is a way to review basic disaster preparedness steps you should be taking at home. Most school-age children are taught disaster preparedness techniques in school, as well as proper actions to take during any disaster. Most schools also require each child to have their own disaster kit on school premises.

Since your family's safety and well-being are your biggest concern, let's begin there. Keep addresses and phone numbers of children's school or day care with you at all times. Have a family plan in place; who calls whom, who picks up the kids, where everyone meets. Also have a backup plan for children. For example, if you are unable to pick your children up at school, a specific relative has the authority to do so.

In many recent disasters, telephone lines were either knocked out and nonfunctional, or completely overwhelmed with calls. Cellular phones are a great way to contact family. The newest link in communication is the internet. Many families have the ability to contact each other via e-mail and ensure safety when phone lines are unavailable.

In addition to a home fire escape plan, set up a home emergency escape plan. Notify your neighbors and use their house as a 'safe' place to meet. In the case of an earthquake, identify furniture or doorways to get under for protection.

Equip your home, office and vehicle with disaster kits in the event of an emergency. The kit for your home should be substantially larger than the others. The rule of thumb is to be prepared for 72 hours in the event of a major disaster. At a minimum, this kit should include:

When a true disaster strikes, your emotions and energy will be caught up in locating and caring for your loved ones. Having taken the preparatory steps ahead of time will prove to be one less burden should a disaster occur.