Injury Prevention

Regions Hospital's trauma staff are active in educating the public about injury prevention. Our children's safety program Traumaroo helps kids develop safe behavior patterns. Through our Think First Program, young people are taught about risk-taking behaviors that can lead to head and spinal cord injuries.

We are also involved in many other trauma prevention efforts, including pedestrian safety, adolescent drinking and driving, fire prevention and seat belt education.

Injury Prevention For Kids
Children are especially at risk for injuries, so it's important that adults know how to respond in case of an injury. Here are some tips on preventing injuries to your child.

Falls

• Prevent falls by never leaving a child alone, even for a second, on a changing table, bed, other furniture or playground equipment.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, especially basement stairs, and keep the basement door closed. Do not use a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs because babies can push them out. Use a hardware-mounted gate instead.
• Use the safety straps in grocery carts and other infant equipment.
• Keep your child away from open windows, even if screens are on them.
• Properly lock high chair trays and always buckle your child in tightly.
• Teach children not to jump on beds and couches.

Motor Vehicle Crashes

• Secure your baby correctly in an approved car seat for every car ride. Babies under one year of age must ride in a rear-facing car seat to support the neck. Babies facing forward are at risk of spine injury. When your baby is one year old, he or she can be placed in a forward-facing car seat.
• Car seats should be used until your child is 40 pounds or about four years old. After this, your child should use a booster seat. A child needs to remain in a booster seat until he or she is about 8 years old or until the child's legs can be bent over the edge of the seat without slouching.
• The back seat is the safest place for all babies and children. This is extremely important if your car has a passenger-side airbag so that your child is not injured or killed if the airbag expands in a crash.

Accidental Cuts and Bites

• Do not leave your child alone with pets that could bite or scratch.
• Keep sharp items such as scissors, knives and razors out of the reach of your child.

Bicycle Safety

• Teach bike safety when your child sits in a bike seat or carrier or starts to use a tricycle or bike. Insist that your child wear a helmet every time he or she goes for a ride. If your child falls from a bike, a helmet will reduce his or her risk of a brain injury by 85 percent.

If your child sustains an injury

If your child is bleeding, apply pressure to the wound and seek medical attention at the nearest emergency center. If your child has a serious fall - such as falling from stairs, a swing or a tree - he or she may have a spine injury. Don't move the child and call 911.

Poisons

Store all cleaning supplies, vitamins, insect and weed sprays, medicines and cosmetics in locked cabinets that are out of reach. Make sure you do not have poisonous plants around. Have Syrup of Ipecac on hand to induce vomiting. Always call the Poison Control Center for instructions before giving the Ipecac.

Contact the Poison Control Center to get information about what things are poisonous or in case of emergency.

1-800-764-7661 for Minnesota
1-800-815-8855 for Wisconsin

To learn about preventing burn injuries, click here.

To obtain this information in a free Injury Prevention For Kids poster, click here.