KEEPING YOUR CHILD SAFE COMPLIMENTS OF A.R.E.A. SERVICES, INC. AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
	POOL SAFETY: * Never leave children alone in or near a pool, even for a "moment" * Install a fence at least four-foot high around all four sides of the pool. * Make sure the pool gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach. * Keep rescue equipment (shepards hook, long pole with a hook on one end, and a life preserver) Also keep a portable phone near the pool. * Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as "floaties". They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security. * Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning. * Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arms length, providing "touch" supervision. BOAT SAFETY: * Your children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water. * Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted. * Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts, and air mattresses should never be used as life jackets or preservers. * Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set a good example. BUG SAFETY: * Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child. * Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, ex: stagnant water, uncovered food and gardens. * To remove a visible stinger, gently scrape with a credit card horizontally or use your fingernail. * Insect repellents containing DEET are most effective. Information on DEET, go to their website : www.aapnews.org * The concentration of DEET in products may reach a peak concentration of 30%, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants & children. DO NOT use on babies under 2 months. BICYCLE SAFETY: * Do not push your child to ride a 2-wheeled bike until he / she is ready, at about age 5 or 6. * Take your child with you when you shop for a bike, so that he / she can try it out. The value of a properly fitting bike far outweighs the value of surprising your child with a new bike. * Buy a bike that is the right size, not one that your child has to "grow into". Over-sized bikes are especially dangerous. * Your child needs to wear a helmet on every bike ride, no matter how short or how close to home. Many accidents, resulting in head injuries, happen in driveways, on sidewalks, and on bike paths, not just "on the street" * A helmet protects your child from serious injury, and should always be worn. And, remember, wearing a helmet at all times helps children develop "the helmet habit".