Attention, Shoppers: Keep Children Safe
Going shopping? If you take the
kids, keep them safe. “Approach
shopping with the same mind-set
as when childproofing your home. Be aware
of the potential for injury,” said St. Joseph’s
Children’s Hospital Steinbrenner
Emergency/Trauma Center Pediatrician
Manuel Carmona, M.D. Here are three
threats children may come across on a
trip to the store:
Shopping Carts
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, shopping cart injuries send about 24,000 children to emergency departments each year. This is the main shopping injury Dr. Carmona sees in children. Injuries often take place when parents are in a hurry. They rush down an aisle to grab an item and leave the cart unattended.“It only takes a second for a child to swan dive out of a cart,” Dr. Carmona warned. To prevent such accidents, never let children stand in a shopping cart. Strap in the child if a belt is provided, and don’t let older children push the cart.
Escalators
Most escalator mishaps occur with children younger than age 5. Use common sense when you take small children on an escalator.“Make sure their shoes are tied and there are no loose clothing strings hanging that can get caught in an escalator track,” Dr. Carmona said. “Hold the child’s hands so they can’t pinch their fingers in the moving railing.”
If you use a stroller, opt for an elevator. “You may have to walk a bit further to find an elevator, but it’s a safer option because strollers can lurch forward or collapse on an escalator,” he said.
Closed Vehicles
“There is absolutely, positively no reason to leave children alone in a car, even for a minute,” Dr. Carmona stressed.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says car windows act like a greenhouse, trapping sunlight and heat. Even outside temperatures in the 60s can cause a car’s temperature to rise well above 100 degrees. In warm weather, a vehicle can warm to dangerous, deadly levels in 10 minutes.
“Your number one responsibility when shopping is your child,” Dr. Carmona said. Keep your children with you under your watchful eye. “Basically, the greatest safety measure for children is an attentive parent.”