Safety
Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore very important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your eleven to twelve year old safe:
- According to the latest car seat guidelines, older school age kids should sit in a belt-positioning booster seat when they reach the weight and height harness strap limits of their forward-facing car seat. The move to regular seat belts should not occur until kids are "old enough and large enough" for the seat belts to protect them properly, which usually isn't until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall (57 inches) and are between 8 and 12 years old.
- If out of a booster seat, make sure your child is buckled up in the back seat with a lap and shoulder harness at all times.
- 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.
- Always wear a bicycle helmet and avoid bicycling near traffic.
- Practice sports safety: teach your child to always wear all of the appropriate safety equipment made for each sport (helmets, mouth guards, pads, etc.).
- Teach pedestrian (crossing streets, etc.) and playground safety (including not playing on trampolines).
- Avoid exposing your child to too much sun (use sunscreen).
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and use flame retardant sleepware. 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.).
- Practice food safety: wash fruits and vegetables, do not eat undercooked meats or poultry or drink unpasteurized milk or juices.
- If you must have a gun in the house keep it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
- Practice water safety: teach your child to swim, do not let your child play around any water (lake, pool, ocean, etc.) without adult supervision (even if he is a good swimmer), always wear a life preserver or safety vest when on a boat, and childproof the pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing, self-latching door.
- Encourage your child to brush his teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day and have regular dental checkups (every six months).
- Limit television and encourage reading and storytelling.
- Supervise your child's use of computers (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.
- Teach your child how to dial 911 (if available in your area).
- Be a good example for your child by always using a seat belt, helmet, etc.
For more information on your eleven to twelve year old's
safety:
