Having a child is one of the most exciting moments in life. It is also very stressful. As a parent, you worry about them being healthy, staying safe at school, and coming home from their friends’ houses free of injury. Parenthood is an emotional rollercoaster ride and it doesn’t get any easier as your child grows. Today, the team of Florida child injury attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson explores the most common injuries to children.
Drowning is a Serious Concern and Deadly for Children
Since Florida has so many different bodies of water, both along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast and inland, it’s important for parents to teach children about water safety. It’s also a good idea to put your children through swimming lessons beginning at an early age so they are not afraid of the water but also learn to respect its power. A small child can drown in an inch of water, which is why it’s imperative you watch your children closely when they are around any size body of water.
Children Should Not Have Access to Cabinets
Cabinets store cups, pans, pots, dishes, and food. They also store cleaning materials and other items that are poisonous if ingested. Cabinets that have any of these items stored in them should have child-proof locks on them. Aside from chemicals and cleaning materials, medicine should be kept out of the reach of children even though the containers have child-proof caps. Keep medicine stored in cabinets off the ground and put a lock on them.
Don’t Let Your Child Play With Small Toys
When buying your child toys, make sure you purchase toys that are age-appropriate. Read the warning labels to make sure that there are no small parts that they can choke on, potentially causing death. Children under the age of six should not be fed raw carrots, hard candy, or nuts. All of these items can cause a child to choke.
Monitor Children on Playground Equipment
Falls are a leading cause of injury to children in Florida. Be sure to watch their every move when playing on a playground. Children love to climb anything they can, including trees, furniture, and playground equipment. In your home, be sure to mount tall furniture to the wall with strong brackets to avoid it from falling onto your child if they climb it. If your child wants to climb a tree, do so with your assistance and make sure it is a small tree.
Suffocation Can be Avoided
Children suffocate all too often in a matter of seconds. Keep plastic bags out of their reach. When you put your baby to bed for the night in a crib, do not let them sleep with blankets or stuffed animals. There should only be a tight-fitting sheet on the mattress. This is especially important if your baby is unable to roll over on its own.
Call a Personal Injury Attorney
If your child has been injured in one of the Florida accidents discussed here, be sure to contact a Florida child injury attorney. Call the office of Colson Hicks Eidson today at 305-476-7400, or complete a contact form to schedule a consultation.
