Put a safe spin on cycling, skating

Bike riding, rollerblading and skateboarding are great outdoor outlets for kids needing exercise when school and extracurriculars are closed or canceled. But too many kids are not wearing helmets and pads – and that can lead to life-threatening injuries.

Since January 2019, 35 Palm Beach County children have suffered traumatic bicycle injuries. Of those, 32 (91 percent) were not wearing a helmet, according to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.e January 2019, 35 Palm Beach County children have suffered traumatic bicycle injuries. Of those, 32 (91 percent) were not wearing a helmet, according to the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.

Make sure the helmet fits correctly

For wheeled sports activities, all children should wear a helmet approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Properly fitted helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by at least 45 percent, yet less than half of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet,” says Kathy Wall, program director of Safe Kids Palm Beach County.

When fitting a helmet, follow the two-finger rule. “You should be able to put only two fingers between your eyebrows and the helmet. Two fingers should form a V where the straps lie under your ears when buckled, with no more than two fingers width of space under the chin strap,” says Brittany Angulo, child life manager and head of the pediatric trauma safety team at Palm Beach Children’s Hospital.

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Simple ways to keep your sleeping baby safe

We know it’s tempting to cuddle and breastfeed your baby in your bed. But according to medical experts, the risk of infant death because of suffocation is 40 times greater when your baby sleeps with you. 

To keep your baby safe while sleeping, follow these tips:

• Babies should always sleep alone, on their backs, in a safe crib or bassinet.
• Make sure the mattress is firm and the sheets are tight fitting.
• Remove stuffed animals, bumpers or accessories from cribs.
• Babies should never sleep in adult beds or on couches, chairs, waterbeds or other furniture.
• Put the crib or bassinet in your room if you want to be near your baby.
• Remember to return your baby to the crib before you fall asleep.
• Check to see if your crib meets federal safety standards. Cribs with drop-down sides or wide slats have been recalled.
• Never place a crib near windows, draperies, blinds or wall-mounted decorative accessories with cords.
• Talk about safe sleeping with anyone who cares for your baby, such as grandparents, babysitters and others.

See new safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

If you need help providing your baby a safe place to sleep, please contact HomeSafe at 561-383-9800.

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Never leave a child alone in a vehicle – even for a minute

It seems so simple — never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Yet on average, a child dies in a vehicle from heat exposure every 10 days in the United States.

Even when it’s not so hot out, children are at risk of heatstroke in an enclosed vehicle. Even on cooler days, the temperature inside a vehicle can jump up 40 degrees in just an hour. Cracking the windows doesn’t help.

Always lock the doors and trunk, and ensure keys and remote entry fobs are out of children’s sight and reach. Teach children that trunks are not safe places to play hide-and-seek, and show older children how to find and use the emergency trunk release in cars made since 2002.

Remember to ACT

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Make sure you keep your car locked when you're not in it.
C: Create reminders by putting something important next to your child, such as a briefcase, purse or cell phone. This is especially important when there’s a break in your family’s routine.
T: Take action. Call 911 if you see any child alone in a car.

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