Fireworks

Safe Living

 

It seems that, because of the numerous news reports of "accidents" we've become desensitized by the reports.

That is, until it happens to us or our kin. When it "hits close to home", we suddenly realize how precious and delicate our lives truly are. The most important thing you must know is that accidents are preventable.
Like forming (or kicking) a habit, safety is about changing your attitude. It's looking for and eliminating hazards. And because not all accidents can be predicted, it's also "...hoping for the best and planning for the worst." By being Safety PROactive, you'll find your your home, the roads, and the community in general CAN be a safer place. Here is an Emergency Contact sheet to download and place near your phone at home or hand out to your daycare parents.

Creating a Safe Environment in your childs Daycare

In 2006, the Nebraska State Legislature passed LB 994, a bill requiring licensed child care providers to complete training that “shall be designed to meet the health, safety and developmental needs of children…and shall include information on sudden infant death syndrome, shaken baby syndrome and child abuse and neglect”. (Nebraska State Statute 43-2606). Once the child care regulations are revised and disseminated, all licensed child care programs will need to meet these requirements. The Department of Health and Human Services and Education, including the Early Childhood Training Center, have worked together to develop these courses” These course are called Safe With You Workshops. Please ensure that your daycare has provided this training for their staff.

Creating a Safe Environment in Your Home
Step one in creating a safe environment is finding potentially-dangerous situations and objects. This could be a frayed power cord, chemicals within the reach of children, an unstable extension ladder ...ANYTHING that increases the risk of injury to you or others.

We challenge you and your family to set aside just one hour this week to do a walk-through of your home, looking for safety problems. Grab a clipboard with some paper and pen and do a safety inspection. Consider the three more common causes of home injury: FIRE, FALLS, and POISONINGS. In considering fire have you planned and practiced your fire escape plan? Have the Omaha Fire & Rescue come to your child's school to teach your children and then discuss and practice it with your children when they bring their materials home. Click here for information.

Once you've identified the hazards in your home (yes, we know you will find some), start taking the necessary actions to remove them. This step is often put off, because of the project time or cost. But, consider the alternatives if you DON'T eliminate the now not-so-hidden hazards!

Creating a Safe Environment in Your Vehicle

Step one in your vehicle is to maintain your vehicle properly as instructed by the manufacturer. The guidelines will be listed in your vehicle owner's manual. This will help ensure that you don't have a breakdown. Inspect your vehicles tire pressure weekly. This will also help you save on gas. In case you do break down have an emergency kit available including a including a minimum of the following items: a jack, spare tire, jumper cables, flashlight, flares and reflective triangles, engine fluids, first aid kit, etc. Also, did you know that any charged cell phone can make a call to 911 regardless of having a cell phone account or not. Have an emergency cell phone available in your vehicle. This is also a good idea for your home safe room/emergency shelter.

If you transport children ensure their seats are installed correctly and they are the appropriate seats for their height, weight, age and developmental stage. Click here the the American Academy of Pediatrics car seat guide (Other sources to accomplish this

are listed above right column.) Among children under age 5 in passenger vehicles, an estimated 309 lives were
saved in 2009 by restraint use. Of these 309 lives saved, 284 were associated with the use of child safety seats and 26 with the use of adult seat belts. At 100 percent child safety seat use for children under age 5, an estimated 372 lives (that is, an additional 63) could have been saved in 2009.

Over the period 1975 through 2009 an estimated 9,310 lives were saved by child restraints (child safety seats or adult seat belts).Source: NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis. If your seats are outdated or have been involved in a crash and you need to dispose of them please call 402-898-7356 to make arrangements.

Preparing for an Emergency
Preparing for an emergency doesn't have to be elaborate - it's as basic as survival. Keep your plan simple and easy to remember/access. The following questions will help you develope an emergency plan for your family to follow in a disaster.