Be careful what you eat, little mouth

Our injury prevention team has compiled information and tips to help you with home safety and limit these dangers.

Choking

• Babies should be put to sleep on their backs.
• Keep soft things out of the area where an infant sleeps.
• Always watch children when they are eating or playing.
• Do not allow children younger than 3 to eat small, round or hard food.
• Read any warnings on toys or games. Look for small parts that can choke children.
• Store plastic wrappings or bags where children can’t reach them.
• Keep small objects like buttons, beads, marbles, coins, pins and stones out of the reach of children.

Poison

• Read labels and find out which household products or plants are poisonous. If you are not sure about something, keep it where children can’t reach it.
• Lock up poisons and medicines out of sight and reach of children.
• Don’t take medicine in front of children. They might try to copy you.
• Never leave potentially poisonous household products unattended while you are using them.
• Properly dispose of old medicines and cleaning products.
• Check with your local Hazardous Waste Site for instructions on proper disposal of cleaning products.
• Check with your local pharmacy or your local police department for instructions on proper disposal of medications.
• If you suspect that someone has ingested or inhaled poison, or has poison on the skin or in the eyes, call 800.222.1222 immediately. All questions are important.

Button batteries

Each year in the United States, more than 2,800 kids are treated in emergency rooms after swallowing button batteries. That’s one child every three hours.

The number of serious injuries or deaths as a result of button batteries has increased ninefold in the last decade.

Keep coin lithium battery-controlled devices out of sight and reach of children. Remote controls, singing greeting cards, digital scales, watches, hearing aids, thermometers, children’s toys, calculators, key fobs, tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry and decorations all contain button batteries.

Watch a video about protecting your child from swallowing button batteries.

This message was brought to you by Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and your friends at Fifth Third Bank.