In preparation for any major storm, homeowners will seek to mitigate potential damage by safeguarding their property, from securing windows and performing routine maintenance, to gathering equipment and purchasing food, liquids, and medical supplies. Similarly, parents should take the same precautions when it comes to ensuring their child’s safety in dangerous conditions.
November is National Child Safety and Protection Month, a nationwide effort to promote awareness for the potential hazards that children may face in everyday situations, as well as how to react to—or prevent—emergency situations.
The first place parents can look to better safeguard their children is within their own homes. The child injury lawyers at the Shiner Law Group reference tips issued by the National Network of Child Care to prevent injury or death:
- Be cognizant of the foods children eat. Hard foods like nuts and candy cause 40% of all childhood choking deaths.
- Consider putting covers on outlets throughout the home to prevent shock or electrocution.
- Keep small children away from dangerous equipment.
- Secure large pieces of furniture that can be knocked over.
- Use safety gates.
- Be mindful of plants, as common household plants may cause sickness.
With older children, parents should explore ways to encourage the use of seatbelts, bike helmets, and training wheels to reduce the risk of severe injury. Children should never speak to, get in the car with, or accept anything from strangers.
Developing an Emergency Plan
Even with the best planning, emergency situations do happen. Parents should make every effort to understand their child’s schedule, as well as any secret places he or she may go with friends.
In Florida, children can go missing, be taken by an estranged relative, or even kidnapped. Maintaining current photo identification, records, and other pertinent information will increase a family’s—and law enforcement’s—odds in locating a lost child.
Some local police departments encourage parents to fingerprint their child and offer this service for free, as fingerprints are the best identifier. If a local police department does not offer fingerprinting kits, parents may purchase them online from third-party sources.
Nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year in the United States—roughly 2,000 cases each day—according to ABC News, with 115 missing children being abducted by unknown individuals.
Take advantage of this National Child Safety and Protection Month to create a plan and protect your child in an emergency.
If your child has been injured as a result of negligence, the child injury lawyers at the Shiner Law Group are standing by to ensure that whoever is responsible for the child’s injury is held accountable. Holding negligent parties responsible is necessary to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future; however, proving negligence can be difficult. Our award-winning child injury attorneys have over 15 years’ experience with proven results. Call us for a free consultation.
Speak with a Shiner Law Group Child Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injury, or you have lost a loved one, we welcome you to contact our experienced legal team so we can evaluate your personal injury claim and advise you of your rights and options.
Call us at (561) 777-7700 or contact us online for a free case review to see how we can help.
