Child Safety Ideas and Resources

Child Safety in the Air
Traveling by air with children has its own special challenges and hazards. The following links provide information and advice on a number of child safety issues as well as child travel information provided by some airlines. Topics include: Tips for children traveling alone, safety tips for traveling with children, general cabin safety tips, restraining toddlers in flight, lavatory adventures, child travel rules, and child safety resources. There is additional information, such as an FAA borchure on the safe use of child seats and the FAA regulation concerning child seat use, as well as a child travel health article from the Centers for Disease Control.

Spa and Pool Safety for Children
A wealth of spa and pool safety tips for children. Pools and spas are attractive to children, and children must be kept away from them in the absence of adequate supervision. A fence, wall or natural/artificial barrier should completely enclose your pool or spa. All gates or doors with access to the pool or spa should have a spring lock, self-closing and self-latching mechanism that protects against unauthorized entry and use. (The inside latch should be above the reach of toddlers or young children.) Do not place objects (e.g., chairs or tables) near the pool or spa fence that would allow a youngster to climb over. Tree limbs and low overhanging roofs should be removed or made inaccessible. A clear view of the pool or spa from the house should be assured by removing vegetation and other obstacles. Trespassers or unexpected swimmers can be discovered by an occasional glance at the pool or spa area.

Toy Safety
In general, most toys on the market today are safe. But, injuries still occur in spite of tough government regulations and toy makers' efforts to test products. The first step in preventing toy-related injuries is to know what to look for. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is a great resource for toy safety, as you would expect it to be. This page offers several publications in PDF format. There's a guide to choosing, buying and maintains toys for children and infants; a fact sheet on the Child Safety Protection Act; tips on selecting and using electric toys, which can be quite dangerous; a safety alert on caps for toy guns to help prevent burn injuries; a document of the suffocation danger associated with children's balloons; a document wanting against BB guns (BB Guns Can Kill); and a document on the choking hazard of plastic film on toys and other children's products. There are other documents as well, such as a toy safety coloring book and guys for choosing suitable toys for children up to age five, and ages six through twelve.

The Child Saving Institute
For 120 years, Child Saving Institute (CSI) has provided a safe haven and healing for children who are the victims of family crisis, neglect and abuse. CSI believe that childhood matters, that every child should have a right to a safe, happy childhood. They provide innovative and comprehensive child safety and child prevention programs and services: theraphy, early childhood education, emergency shelter, foster care, adoption, pregnancy counseling and parenting classes. They address child abuse, volunteering, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and maltreatment, kids educational games, bullies, books, teen information. The site provides information on how you can help in fund raising and volunteering, such as through on-site program opportunities like helping in emergency shelters, early childhood education center, and general educational support, or in mentoring children, teens or young adults. The Center can also use administrative volunteers,