ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — September is National Baby Safety Month and health experts say unintentional injuries are the number one cause of injuries and death in young children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, over 9 million children are hospitalized due to accidental injuries. In the Southwest Virginia region, health professionals have noted a higher rate of emergency room admissions caused by falls, car accidents, or poisoning.
Carilion Safe Kids Southwest Virginia shares a few things to keep in mind to keep your baby safe.
- Use age and developmentally-appropriate products.
- Follow all manufacturing instructions, including recommendations for the use of products and warning labels.
- Secure furniture and put safeguards in place to ensure their safety.
“Have safety gates at the top and bottom of your stairway, make sure you have TV and furniture tip-over straps, because once they start to crawl, and pull up on things, you want to make certain things are secure,” said Jill Drakeford, Carilion Safe Kids Coordinator.
Experts shared making sure that your child’s car seat is installed correctly is crucial. To help you with this, the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department conducts a monthly car seat check on the third Thursday of every month at 1333 Jamison Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24013.
It’s important to take advantage of this service to ensure that your child’s safety is never compromised while on the road.
The Carilion Children’s is also hosting a free National Seat check on Saturday, Sept. 23. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will be at the Target on Valley View Blvd.
