Responding To You: Keep children safe this summer

By the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue’s Community Relations Team
Published: April 22, 2008

In 2006, Virginia reported more than 4,000 injury-related deaths in children ages 1 to 9 with falls being the leading cause of injury.

According to Safe Kids USA, 9 percent of fall-related injuries are associated with products (e.g., baby walkers, windows, playground equipment) resulting in hospitalization — twice the number of hospitalizations compared to other product-related injuries.

Children ages 4 and under tend to sustain fall-related injuries (80 percent) primarily in the home. Whereas children ages 5 to 14 sustain fall-related injuries at home (45 percent) as well as in school (23 percent) — mostly from playground equipment-related injuries.

The week of April 20-26 has been designated as Window Safety and Playground Safety Week for 2008.  The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue (pwcgov.org/fire) urges everyone to get involved at home, school and your neighborhood to help reduce unintentional injuries among children by following these safety tips:

Window Safety Tips

• Keep children away from open windows

• Install window guards or window stop devices that prevent windows from opening more than 4 inches (educate family members, older children and adults on how to release window guards in the event of a fire or other emergency that requires evacuation)

• Keep climbable objects — furniture, beds, toy chests, etc. — away from window

• Do not place toys and other inviting objects on window sills

• Check to make sure porch and balcony railings are spaced 4 inches apart or less

• Always provide adult supervision for children around open windows or in risky environments

• Remember, window screens are designed to keep bugs out and let air in. They are not designed to prevent falls.

Playground Safety Tips

Parent Checklist:
• Adult presence is needed to watch for potential hazards

• Strings on clothing or ropes can cause accidental strangulation if caught on equipment

• Make sure equipment is age-appropriate -— ages 2 through 5 and 5 through 12 need different equipment in separate areas

• Check for acceptable play surfaces, such as hardwood fiber/mulch, pea gravel, sand and synthetic materials such as poured-in-place, rubber mats or tiles

Check to make sure equipment is:
• Safe and anchored safely in the ground

• Equipment pieces are in good working order

• S-hooks are entirely closed, bolts are not protruding, there are no exposed footings, etc.

Kid Checklist:
• Are adults at the playground?

• Can adults see children at all times even in crawl spaces?

• Is the equipment in good condition?

• Is the playground environment clean?

• Is the equipment surface smooth?

This column is provided by the Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue’s Community Relations Team. Send questions or comments to DFR Responding to You, 9250 Lee Ave., Manassas VA 20110 or via e-mail to .