Emergency safety tips

Every day in the United States there are nearly 25,000 visits to emergency rooms for unintentional injuries among children ages 14 and under. Knowing how to deal with an emergency can make the difference between life and death.

Here are some safety tips to take:

• Post telphone numbers for police, fire, ambulance, poison control center and family doctor by every telephone.
• Make sure that young children, baby sitters and grandparents know the address and telephone number when calling for help by listing them by every telephone in the home.
• Make sure that children have a trusted neighbor or friend that they can contact in the event that parents or caregivers are unavailable.
• Teach children how to dial 9-1-1 so that a child can clearly and calmly provide a dispatcher with the necessary information to send help.
• Create and practice a family emergency plan. What is the safest way to get out of the house if there is a fire? Where will you meet if there is a fire or other emergency?