March marks spring break for families and it is Poison Prevention Month. According to the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, one in two children live in homes where medications are not always locked up and four in seven children live in homes where cleaning products are not always stored in a locked area. 

“Unintentional poisoning can happen to anyone, at any age,” said Klaressa Broughton, poison prevention program coordinator at the Center for Community Health. 

In 2025, Cook Children’s saw an increase of poisoning encounters, with 1,031 compared to 818 in 2024. Broughton explains that the top poisoning for 2025 involved children of all ages from birth to 18 and were related to medication and unspecified non-drug poisonings.  

“By practicing Safe Dosing, Safe Storage, and Safe Disposal, you can create layers of protection for your household,” said Broughton. 

She adds having conversations with friends, caregivers and family can ensure kids stay safe while they explore someone else’s home. She suggests opening the conversation with: “Since the kids are at the “into everything stage”, do you mind if we double-check that medications and cleaners are out of reach?” 

Tips for Poison Prevention: 

Safe Medication Dosing 

• Follow the dosing directions listed on the medication by using the appropriate measuring items, such as a medicine cup or oral syringe.
• Double dosing is NOT twice as effective, and in many instances can cause internal damage.
• Adult medications may be too strong for children and should not be given in half doses. Only give medicine to your child that is intended for children.
• Print the medication schedule to keep the right dosage for your family. 

Safe Storage 

• Many people leave medications on bathroom and kitchen counters as well as bedroom nightstands as a visual reminder to take them. Avoid unintentional injury and store medication up high, locked, and out of reach.
• Hang purses and personal bags up high so children cannot reach prescriptions, vitamins, or other regularly used medications.
• Remember, when visiting friends and family, it is ok to have an open discussion about safe storage. 

Safe Disposal 

• DEA Drug Take Back Day is on April 25th from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Visit a medication drop box at a local pharmacy. For more information on poison prevention, visit www.meddropbox.org.
• The best disposal option is to find a drug take-back location, which may be found in retail, hospital, pharmacies, and/or law enforcement facilities.
• Removing any unused or expired medication in the home can reduce the risk of access. 

 Related Stories:  

• Expert Tips for a Safe Spring Break: Car Safety

• Expert Tips for a Safe Spring Break: Water Safety
• Expert Tips for a Safe Spring Break: Aim for Safety

With Christmas around the corner, parents are scrambling to find the perfect gifts for their kids. December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, and many of the toys sold in stores and online pose significant dangers to kids of all ages including water beads recently highlighted in the news. Once swallowed, the beads may swell inside the intestine creating a potentially life-threatening blockage.

“Unfortunately the water beads are not always visible on an X-ray, and typically we have to monitor closely to see if any concerning symptoms begin to appear such as vomiting, abdominal pain or distension,” said Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O., pediatrician and Medical Advisor for Digital Health at Cook Children’s.

Last year, more than 200,000 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments with 74% of those sustained by children 14 years old or younger. Forty-six percent of the injuries were to the head and face – the most commonly affected areas of the body. 

Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, says that looking at the recommended age displayed on the toy packaging is often overlooked and more important than people realize.

“The age is set on the research of what is appropriate for mental and physical development and safety,” Evans said. “It doesn’t mean your child is not smart or mature.”

Evans says one of the gifts she would definitely say no to are the Airsoft or Nerf guns – and anything that shoots objects – because the hospital sees a lot of eye injuries from those.

Use these safe toy guidelines when shopping for your children:

• Avoid buying toys with sharp points or other dangerous edges.
• Do not buy toys with small magnets or button batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested.
• Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break easily.
• Look for “ASTM” on the label. This means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Always include protective gear with sports equipment.
• Do not buy toys with long strings or cords as these can become wrapped around a child’s neck.
• Do not give toys with small parts to young children. If the object fits inside a toilet paper roll or if pieces from the toy could break off and fit into the roll, it is not appropriate for kids younger than 3.
• Always dispose of uninflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy.
• Do not buy crayons or markers unless they are labeled nontoxic.

Every year Cook Children’s treats more than 600 children due to poisonings. Seventy-five percent are medication related. Children can be accidentally poisoned by finding medication belonging to a friend or family member at their house or in their purse or bag; or by getting into a cabinet that contains household cleansers like bleach or window spray.

Nationally, nearly 60,000 young children end up in the ER every year because they got into medicine.

“Telling your child that medicine is candy or disguising it as candy in anyway is never a good idea,” said Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of Emergency Services at Cook Children’s. “Young children who can’t read labels may not know the difference between candy and pills or between juice and a cleaner. If you stack them side-by-side, you would have a hard time distinguishing between Sudafed tablets and candies like Red Hots, Tic Tacs or red M&Ms.”

So what do you do if you suspect your child has been poisoned?

Call the North Texas Poison Center help number at 1-800-222-1222 if someone in your family eats, drinks, breathes, touches poison or gets it in the eyes.

1. Program the Poison Center number into your cell phone today.

2. Don’t be afraid to call. Only the people who help you will know your name.

3. The phone line is available 24/7 and your call is free. More than 150 languages are spoken.

4. The Poison Center is staffed by nurses, pharmacists and doctors.

“Parents should call 9-11 immediately if a child, or anyone else in the family, won’t wake up or is having trouble breathing or is having seizures,” Dr. Warmink said.

Here are 5 other things you should know if you expect your child has been poisoned:

1. If your child has swallowed poison, have him or her spit out as much as possible.

2. Don’t make the child vomit, unless the label on the poison or local poison control center ask you to do so. “Vomiting can often times cause even more problems,” Dr. Warmink said. “First of all, it’s usually not very effective at removing the poison and the vomit can also go down the wrong way and find its way into the lungs. Another concern is that products such as cleaners and dishwasher powders can actually cause more burning.”

3. Don’t be alarmed if the child does vomit on his or own, but call for advice. “Sometimes it’s a natural reaction for a child to throw up,” Dr. Warmink said. “If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to give the child a few sips of water and then call the North Texas Poison Center.

4. Don’t use syrup or ipecac to induce vomiting. “This is not something that we recommend any longer as a routine treatment for poisoning,” Dr. Warmink said.

5. Don’t give your child milk without consulting a medical professional first. “First, consult with the professionals at the North Texas Poison Center,” Dr. Warmink said. “Milk can be helpful at times, but depending on what the child absorbed, the milk can increase the possibility of poisoning.” The same holds true for other fluids, such as juice or soda, consult with the Poison Center first.

Here are 5 other things you should know if you expect your child has been poisoned:

1. If your child has swallowed poison, have him or her spit out as much as possible.

2. Don’t make the child vomit, unless the label on the poison or local poison control center ask you to do so. “Vomiting can often times cause even more problems,” Dr. Warmink said. “First of all, it’s usually not very effective at removing the poison and the vomit can also go down the wrong way and find its way into the lungs. Another concern is that products such as cleaners and dishwasher powders can actually cause more burning.”

3. Don’t be alarmed if the child does vomit on his or own, but call for advice. “Sometimes it’s a natural reaction for a child to throw up,” Dr. Warmink said. “If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to give the child a few sips of water and then call the North Texas Poison Center.

4. Don’t use syrup or ipecac to induce vomiting. “This is not something that we recommend any longer as a routine treatment for poisoning,” Dr. Warmink said.

5. Don’t give your child milk without consulting a medical professional first. “First, consult with the professionals at the North Texas Poison Center,” Dr. Warmink said. “Milk can be helpful at times, but depending on what the child absorbed, the milk can increase the possibility of poisoning.” The same holds true for other fluids, such as juice or soda, consult with the Poison Center first.

About the Source

Corwin Warmink, M.D., is medical director of Cook Children's Emergency Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cook Children's Emergency Department (ED) treats more than 105,000 patients every year. Our ED is the only EMS-designated pediatric trauma center in Tarrant County. Now, thanks to years of dedication and hard work, Cook Children'sMedical Center has reached Level II Trauma Designation from the American College of Surgeons and the Department of State Health Services. Cook Children's Medical Center is one of nine such facilities in the state of Texas. Click to learn more.

Our safety experts warn against strapping your child into a car seat with a bulky coat because it can affect the ability of your car seat to work properly.

“Winter coats should be put on outside of the harness to prevent extra slack in the harness when the coat is compressed,” said Katherine Rabbe, Community Health Outreach Injury Prevention Coordinator at Cook Children’s.

Safe Kids Worldwide advices parents to take the pinch test:

1. First, remove bulky clothing and blankets.
2. Make sure the harness straps are adjusted to the correct height – they should be at, or just below, the child’s shoulders when the child rides rear-facing, and at, or just above, the child’s shoulders when a child is forward-facing.
3. Then buckle and tighten the harness straps.
4. Place the chest clip at armpit level.
5. Now pinch the strap at your child’s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.

Ensure comfort and safety at the same time. To keep your child warm and toasty after you remove the bulky coat, you can place a blanket over the tightened car seat harness. 

“Car seats are a safety device and the best protection you can give your child in the car. However, you have to use them right, on every trip, every time,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s. “Putting a coat or thick sweater under the harness of their car seat can cause the harness to be too loose and not protect your child during an a car crash”

For more information:

• Today Show Report 
• Winter Is Coming: A Cold-Weather Safety Checklist
• Winter Driving With Little Ones

"Parents may think buying costumes that are too big allow children to wear the costumes for several years, but outfits that are too big can cause falls," said Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coaltion.

Use these tips as your kids are preparing for Halloween:

1. Select costumes that fit well.
2. Trick-or-treat with your children.
3. To help drivers see kids in the dark, put reflective tape at the top and bottom of costumes. This lets drivers better see your kids' height and movement.
4. Use face paint instead of masks so trick-or-treaters' vision isn't blocked.
5. Plan a familiar trick-or-treating route on safe, well-lit streets, use sidewalks and cross the street at intersections.
6. When crossing the street, use the crosswalk and make eye contact with the drivers so you know they see you and your group.
7. Use a flashlight or glow stick to light the way.

For more safety information

Being a parent is tough. We want you to know that you are not alone. We've compiled tips, resources and practical advice on a variety of safety and prevention topics designed to help you raise a safe and healthy family.

According to noheatstroke.org, 32 children have died in the U.S. as a result of being left in a car. In all of 2015, 24 kids died. 

On Sept. 21, 2016, a 7-month-old baby died in a hot car in Huntsville, Ala. The temperature was 94 degrees. The following day, a 4-month-old child died in Geronimo, Okla. The temperature at the time was 96 degrees. 

As anyone who lives in a state like Texas can attest, summer-like temperatures can occur even in winter. But it doesn’t take a scorching hot day for a child to be in danger. Heatstroke deaths have been recorded in 11 months of the year in nearly all 50 states.

“It truly doesn’t have to be a ‘hot’ day in Texas for a death to occur,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County coordinator. “The temperature inside a vehicle can quickly climb over 20 degrees hotter than outdoor temperature. So even a cool day in Texas can become dangerous very quickly. Since children’s body heat rises three to five times faster than adults, it’s important to know that temperatures can become deadly any time of year.

Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. It occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

“We still have to get the word out that there’s never a safe time to leave your child in the car,” said Sharon Evans,Trauma/Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, said. “We’ve seen children die in February. We hope people will take extra precaution in never leaving a child in the car.”

Safe Kids Worldwide says that heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle related deaths for children and that young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adults’.

It’s hard to imagine someone forgetting a child is in the car, but human error, and people make these mistakes during their busy day-to-day lifestyle. Safe Kids recommend the “ACT” method to prevent tragedy to your child or to a child you see left in a car:

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.
• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Placing a crib, changing table or chair next to a window might offer your child a nice view outside or access to fresh air, but be careful – window falls can happen to anyone and in some cases, can be deadly. Safe Kids Tarrant County, a program within Cook Children’s Community Health Outreach department, recommends that adults actively supervise their children when around open windows. Toddlers have been known to fall out of windows open as little as five inches.

Sharon Evans, Trauma/Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, worries that the early cooler weather could produce even worse numbers than the previous year. 

From Oct. 1, 2014, to Oct. 21, 2015, Cook Children's cared for 13 children who had fallen from a second or third story window from Oct. 1 2014. During that time frame, one child died.

This is definitely a ‘fair weather’ injury and children 3 to 4 years old seems to be the highest risk,” Evans said. “In talking to parents, we’ve also found that families with special needs children, such as autism, have a special concern about falling out of windows. It’s more common than I ever thought.

“Some families have to worry about the kids just wandering off, but the impulse control is missing in a lot of these children so if they see something out the window they will sometimes dive to get it.”

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average eight children ages 5 and under die each year as a result of falling out of windows, and 3,300 are injured. In Safe Kids’ 2015 Report to the Nation: Protecting Children in Your Home, 70 percent of parents surveyed said they had never used window guards or stops that prevent windows from opening.

Another concern according to that same report is the risk of window blind cords. On average a child dies almost every month from strangling in window blind cords. To protect children, cords and strings should be kept out of reach of children and cribs, beds and furniture should be placed away from windows and cribs.

Cook Children's and Safe Kids Tarrant County strongly recommend window guards on all windows above the first floor, preferably guards equipped with an emergency release device in case of fire.

“A screen is not a safety device,” said Dana Walraven, Cook Children’s Community Health Outreach manager and Safe Kids Tarrant County coordinator. “It’s designed to keep insects out, not to keep children in. Proper safety guards on windows save lives.”

A pilot program in New York City showed that window guards reduce window fall-related deaths by up to 35 percent. “In an apartment in a high-rise building, window guards should be considered essential safety equipment,” Walraven said.

Walraven also reminds parents and caregivers:

• Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. For windows above the first floor, install window guards with an emergency release device in case of fire.
• Install window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches.
• Keep windows locked and closed when they are not being used.
• Keep furniture away from windows so kids can’t climb to the ledge.
• If you have double-hung windows — the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom — it is generally safer to open the top pane, but growing kids may have enough strength, dexterity and curiosity to open the bottom pane.
• Never try to move a child who appears to be seriously injured after a fall — call 911 and let trained medical personnel move the child with proper precautions.
• Consider using cordless window products in your home if you have young children or if they visit your home frequently.
• Check all Roman blinds and roll up shades in your home — kids have been strangled while playing with dangling cords. If looped pull cords, exposed inner cords, or exposed lifting loops are found, replace the blinds or shades with products that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.

For more information

Cook Children's partners with the community to raise awareness and meet learning centered around injury prevention and child safety. Whether it is the correct use of a car seat, drowning prevention education in the schools, or providing a better awareness of poison hazards to new moms, we are working to create safe homes and communities for children. Learn more here.

Last year, 24 kids died in the U.S. and from 1998 to present, 676 children have died.

“What’s heartbreaking is that this is a serious public health issue that is totally preventable,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County Coordinator. “Every mom and dad out there must realize it can happen to you. Texas leads the nation in child heat-related car deaths.”

Parents may mistakenly think they can safely leave a child in a vehicle for a “quick” errand, but that’s simply not true. Temperatures inside the car can be 20 or more degrees hotter than the temperature outside, rising to dangerous levels in minutes. Unfortunately, it only takes a few minutes for tragedy to occur.

Safe Kids Worldwide says that heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.

“Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults,” Walraven said. “When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or death.”

Heatstroke, or hyperthermia, occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Safe Kids recommend the “ACT” method to prevent tragedy to your child or to a child you see left in a car:

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.
• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

It’s difficult to think that as parents, we could “forget” our children, but it happens each year with no exception to socioeconomic or education level. Often times, a change in routine, a distraction along the way, or the event a child falls quietly asleep, unseen, in the back seat, allows for a parent/caregiver to “forget” and leave a child in the car.

Here are some important tips to help prevent unintentional injury to your child:

1. Dial 911 if you see an unattended child in a car. Sometimes, people don’t want to get involved or just assume the parents are on the way out. But as you read earlier, it doesn’t take long for a child to die in a hot car. If you see a child or children alone in a car without an adult, call 911 immediately.
2. Never leave your child alone in a vehicle, even for 1 minute. Windows left slightly open will not affect rising temperatures in the car.
3. Set safe habits: leave a cell phone, purse, briefcase, etc. in the back seat before driving, forcing you to always check the back seat and see a child is/is not back there.
4. Program your cell phone and/or computer to remind you to drop off your child each day.
5. Have a plan with your daycare provider to contact you within a few minutes of being late or absent. Let your daycare know that you want them to call you if you are late or you have not called in saying your child will not be in that day.
6. Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
7. Lock all car doors, even at home.
8. If a child goes missing, always check the cars and trunks.

Learn more by clicking here. Also, visit noheatstroke.org for the latest on heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles.

For more information

Every year children are rushed to the emergency room to be treated for car related injuries, many don't even involve traffic or another car. Some injuries occur without the car ever leaving the driveway. Click here for some of the top dangers to be aware of and the key things you can do to help make your car safer for your kids.

And yet, one in three parents surveyed has left their child at pool for two to three minutes without supervision.

You may have seen movies of someone drowning and splashing in the water and making a big, dramatic scene. But that’s only in the movies.

Drowning is a silent killer. In reality there’s very little splashing, waving or screaming. You likely won’t hear your child drowning until it’s too late.

“Parents should stay in the water and within arms-reach of their child,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma Injury Prevention/Outreach coordinator for Cook Children’s Medical Center. “Don’t rely on a lifeguard, or an older child, to save your child. Be in the water. A drowning can happen too quickly not to be in with a child.”

Watching your children in the pool isn’t a job for kids, even older children.

"Teens can be easily distracted and they may not have the judgement skills to handle the job," said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s. "If there's a problem in the pool, a child may have trouble getting another child out of the pool. And this is not a responsibility for a young person. A drowning, even if not fatal, can scar a child for life if something happened if he or she were in charge. This is definitely a job for a grownup."

Evans said she was alarmed at a recent event she was at when she asked children what they should do if they saw a friend drowning or struggling in the pool. Too many said they would jump in and save the child.

“That’s the last thing we want to happen,” Evans said. “The child may not be strong enough to support the other child or a strong enough swimmer to support both kids. If a kid jumps in to rescue a friend, you can easily have two victims.”

Evans said to make sure your children know the best way they can help if they see someone in trouble in the water is to run and get help. Notify a lifeguard at a pool if one is on duty or find the nearest adult. Have someone get help and call 911 immediately.

So what should you tell your child to do if they see someone drowning?

First, know the signs. The American Red Cross says to watch for these signs a person may be drowning:

• The person is upright (vertical) in the water.
• The person is unable to move forward or tread water.
• The drowning person is pressing his or her arms down at the sides, trying to keep the head above water to breathe.
• The person spends energy just trying to keep his or her head above water.

If a child sees someone showing signs of trouble, he or she should stay out of the water and look for something to grab a hold of to help the person in trouble:

• A pool noodle
• Any flotation device by the pool
• Fishing pole
• Rake
• Canoe paddle
• Boat oar
• Stick
• Tree branch
• Baseball bat

Children who are too small to pull someone in or the person in the water is out of reach, should find objects to throw in to the water including:

• Kickboard
• Empty picnic cooler
• Life jacket
• Ring buoy
• Water jug
• Basketball
• Inner tube

But mom and dad, you may play a larger part than you ever realized in keeping your kids safe behind the wheel. And if you have a son, you may have to have an even longer conversation.

New research from Safe Kids Worldwide and the General Motors Foundation looks at the risks for teen drivers and some of the numbers are frightening, especially for boys:

• In 2014, 2,138 teens ages 15 to 19 died in a motor vehicle crash (2 out of 3 were drivers, 1 out of 3 were passengers). Three out of four were male.
• Of teen drivers killed who had alcohol in their bloodstream when tested, 8 out of 10 were male.
• The risk of a fatal crash by a teen driver is almost 3 times higher if their passengers are male.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in teens. Males make up almost three-quarters of teen driver deaths and typically suffer more injuries than females. The study states “these differences may be partially explained by the fact that teen males are more likely to drive, ride in a car without a seat belt and rive under the influence of alcohol.”

Research shows that the leading causes of crashes among teen drivers are:

• Driver inexperience
• Driving with other teen passengers
• Nighttime driving
• Not wearing seat belts
• Distracted driving
• Drowsy driving
• Reckless driving (speeding)
• Impaired driving

While the report is scary for parents, it does show they can develop safe young drivers by establishing road rules.

“Parents need to be involved,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s. “Make an agreement with your teen on family driving rules. When there is a formal agreement between the parents and teen, we see less risky behavior. Let your child know what is expected of them while driving.”

With a formal rule against it, the report shows 91 percent of kids rarely/never text while driving, 94 percent of kids with an agreement rarely/never drive after an agreement and 90 percent of kids with an agreement always wear their seat belts.

“Along with the formal agreement, parents can make a huge difference by being a good role model when they are driving with their kids,” Walraven said. “Parents shouldn’t text ever, especially with their kids in the car. Pull over if you need to make a call or text. Buckle up on every ride. Don’t speed and follow the rules of the road. The same thing we expect of our children, they expect from us and they are always watching us. Another great thing parents can do is make sure your teen gets at least 50 hours of supervised experienced under a variety of driving conditions. The more experience they get with an adult, the better off they will be when they are alone or with another teen.”

When making the family agreement, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends these seven rules:

1. 1.Buckle up: every person, every time.
2. 2.Don’t drink and drive.
3. 3.Limit the number of passengers in a car.
4. 4.Don’t text and drive.
5. 5.Follow the speed limit.
6. 6.Only drive in the dark after extra practice.
7. 7.Speak up when any driver is driving unsafely.

Resources:

Cook Children's -  Safety in and around cars 

Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department at Cook Children’s, knows that guns will be a popular gift this holiday season for not only children, but for adults too.

According to the journal Injury Prevention more than one-third of American adults own a gun. Last year, Cook Children’s saw 10 total injuries related to shootings of a gun (ranging from a BB to rifle). Since 2009, Cook Children’s has seen 104 shootings and three deaths.

Dr. Warmink asks parents to explain to children that BB guns can be dangerous, with harm ranging from severe eye damage to liver and kidney injuries.

Dr. Warmink says it’s important that parents educate their children about gun safety and make sure kids know to leave the area if another child, or someone other than their parent, has a gun.

“We live in Texas and I know many kids are raised hunting and have guns in the home,” Dr. Warmink said. “But if you give your child a gun for the holidays or if the adult in the house is given a gun, it’s important to take the proper precautions. The thing we want parents to remember is to keep guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition”

1. Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of kids. Hiding the gun is not enough.

2. Unload your gun. Take all ammunition out of the firearm.

3. Store the keys for the gun in a cabinet or safe different from your household keys. Keep the keys out of the reach of children.

Along with guns and replica firearms, such as airsoft guns that use hydraulics to shoot pellets, Dr. Warmink lists these gifts as dangerous and even life threatening:

• Ripstik Casterboard, Skateboards, roller skates …
• Pull toys with strings over 12 inches
• Trampolines
• Backyard playground equipment
• Hard plastic swords

Sharon Evans, Trauma/Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, knows that owning a bike or scooter is part of growing up. But she encourages parents to take the proper precautions before placing wheeled gifts under the tree.

“Parents, please don’t forget a helmet for all riding toys,” Evans said. “Make sure the helmet is on properly and read the instructions.”

For younger children, Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coalition, warns parents to be aware of any small parts or potential choking hazards from their own toys or perhaps older siblings.

“The holidays can be an especially dangerous time for the little ones,” Walraven said. “Pick out toys and activities that will be appropriate for their age. On Christmas, designate an adult to supervise the children. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of small children and with just a little planning we can keep choking hazards away from them. When it comes to young children, preparation is key.”

Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coalition, gives these 5 tips:

1. Preparation is key. Plan ahead to see how many and how old the children are that will be at Thanksgiving. Then, pick out toys/activities appropriate for several ages and keep the others out of reach.

2. Create an activity area for children to play, equipped with appropriate toys and activities.

3. Designate an adult to supervise the children. Adults can share this responsibility to reduce holiday stressors

4. Do a quick walk-thru to identify any red flags throughout the home, and in children’s reach: whether it be toys, poisons/medications, unsafe electrical outlets, doors accessing pools, etc.

5. Always ask guests to lock their car doors, so children don’t play hide and seek and get locked inside. Child heat stroke can occur even during cooler months.​

About the source

Dana Walraven is the manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coalition. Being a parent is tough. We want you to know that you are not alone. We've compiled tips, resources and practical advice on a variety of safety and prevention topics designed to help you raise a safe and healthy family. Visit our Cook Children's Safety and Prevention Center today.

Since Oct. 1, 2014 to present, 40 drownings have been seen here and three of them have been fatal.

Those numbers are chilling and once again place an emphasis on water safety in the area.

Dana Walraven, community health outreach manager for Cook Children’s, wants to make sure that parents are prepared for warm weather and children in the water. She said the safety begins with making sure a grownup is watching the kids in the water at all times.

“Active adult supervision and layers of protection such as door alarms and a fence can lower the risk for your child,” Walraven said. “The majority of these water-related incidents happen in the child’s own backyard pools and to children 4 years old and younger. Drowning prevention around the pool starts with adult supervision.”

Children are protected by layers of protection by using these safety techniques whenever children are around the pool:

· Always have adult supervision present when children are swimming or around pools.

· A fence with a locking gate should surround the pool.

· Install door alarms to alert adults when a child is entering the pool area.

· Require life jacket use for non-swimmers.

· Enroll children in swimming lessons.

· Parents and caregivers should undergo CPR training.

In nearly nine out of 10 child drowning –related deaths, the parent or caregiver said the child had been with them in the house or pool within five minutes of the accident. Walraven says she knows it is difficult to supervise children 100 percent of the time. She said the levels of protection provide barriers in case the child should slip out of supervision.

Safe Kids Tarrant County, led by Cook Children’s, also offers Water Watcher tags to anyone or group who will use or distribute them. These are especially helpful at parties around the pool or lake to help designate adults that are watching the water. After 15 minutes, the tag is given to another responsible adult – letting everyone enjoy the party while ensuring that the kids are being properly watched. To receive a Water Watcher Tag, call 682-885-4244.

In large pools, it’s ideal to split up in groups and take sections of the pool.

“If you are somewhere where children are in the pool, insist that an adult be on watch,” Walraven said. “It should be done by a sober adult and that should be his or her only focus during their time watching the kids.”

Aside from supervision, four-sided isolation fencing with self-closing/self-latching gates is the best protection for your child and pets. It could prevent 50-90 percent of childhood drowning and near-drowning incidents. This type of fencing goes beyond the yard, to fencing in the pool itself, preventing direct access from the house.

Door and gate alarms give another signal that a child may have access to the pool area without supervision. The tendency is to disconnect it – especially at parties where people are going in and out. But these are also the times when small children are the most vulnerable for injury because of the confusion.

Learning CPR can save a child’s life by restoring breathing and circulation until advance life support can be given by health care providers.

Swim programs for children should teach good water safety behaviors in and around the pool but should not be seen as the sole way to decrease the risk of drowning.

Use a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket with children who can’t swim. It should fit snugly when the child is buckled in and should not go beyond the top of the ears when lifted at the shoulders. Many air-filled, float-type toys are thought to be lifesavers but are not.

Check your pool and spa for cracked or broken drain covers on a regular basis. The suction around the drain can catch hair or clothing, pinning the child underwater. Anti-entrapment drain covers are available for as low as $40 and serve as another level of protection.

Since beach balls, noodles and other toys are attractive to curious young children – put them away when not at the pool.

For more information

Cook Children's has many resources on drowning prevention, beginning here. Click the links below with downloadable information in both Spanish and English, as well as videos. 

• Drowning prevention tips - English
• Drowning prevention tips - Spanish
• Water safety resources
• Drowning prevention education (English and Spanish)

Videos:

• Pool safety video step 1: Supervision
• Pool safety video step 2: Fencing
• Pool safety video step 3: Pool and spa covers
• Pool safety video step 4: Alarms
• Pool safety video step 5: Safety drain covers
• Pool safety video step 6: Swimming lessons
• Pool safety video step 7: Learning CPR
• Safe Kids Tarrant County Drowning Prevention Tips
• Safe Kids Tarrant County sugerencias de prevención de ahogamientos