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Safe Kids Tips
 

Safety Tips

Water and Drowning Safety

  • Always watch children near water. Don't leave, even for a moment.
  • Use a barrier like a fence to keep children away from pools or other bodies of water.
  • Empty and turn over all water containers after you use them.
  • Teach children to swim when they're ready, usually after age 4.
  • Teach children to never run, push or jump on others around water.
  • Teach children never to swim alone.

Fire and Burns Safety

  • Do not leave children alone around open flames, stoves or candles.
  • Keep matches, gasoline, lighters and other flammable materials out of children's reach.
  • Teach children a plan for escaping your home in a fire and practice it.
  • Install smoke alarms in your home on every level and in every sleeping area.
    • Test them once a month.
    • Replace the batteries once a year.
    • Replace alarms every 10 years.
  • Before bathing children in heated water, always run your open hand through the water to check its temperature.
  • Keep hot foods and liquids away from table and counter edges. Never carry children and hot foods or liquids at the same time.
  • Keep things that easily catch fire (such as papers) away from heat sources like stoves, heaters and fireplaces.

Motor Vehicle Safety

  • Every person riding in a car or truck needs his or her own seat belt. Do not let passengers ride in storage areas or on other people's laps.
  • Children should always ride in a back seat restrained in a car seat or safety belt.
  • Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats until they weigh at least 20 lbs (9 kg) and are at least 1 year old. Do not put a rear-facing car seat in the front seat of a vehicle with an active passenger air bag.
  • Children over 1 year old and weighing between 20 lbs (9kg) and 40 lbs (18 kg) should ride in forward-facing car seats.
  • Children ages 4 to 8 weighing between 40 lbs (18 kg) and 80 lbs (36 kg) should ride in booster seats restrained with lap and shoulder belts. A regular safety belt won't fully protect a child this size in a crash.
  • Children and adults weighing over 80 lbs (36kg) should use a safety belt for every ride.

Click here for more information on the new booster seat law. (PDF)

Bike Safety

Teach children the following bicycle and motorbike safety rules:

  • Wear a bicycle or motorcycle helmet on every ride. Check to see if your helmet should have a safety certification.
  • Ride so drivers and cyclists can see you.
  • Look both ways for oncoming vehicles before turning or crossing a street. Go only when it is clear.
  • Watch out for potholes, cracks, rocks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks or anything that could make you lose control of your bike.
  • Make sure your bike fits your height, weight and age.
  • Inflate tires properly.
  • Check brakes before riding.
  • Bikers should ride behind one another and with the flow of traffic.
 
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3501 Knickerbocker Road
San Angelo, TX 76904
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