Health Library

Articles In This Section

• Walls & Floors, Doors & Windows, Furniture, Stairways: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your walls, floors, furniture, doors, windows, and stairways. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• Leaving Your Child Home Alone

  It's natural for parents to be a bit anxious when first leaving kids without supervision. But you can feel prepared and confident with some planning and a couple of trial runs.

• Gun Safety

  Guns are in many homes, so they're a very real danger to kids, whether you own one or not. Learn how to talk with your kids about gun safety.

• Household Safety Checklists

  Young kids love to explore their homes, but are unaware of the potential dangers. Learn how to protect them with our handy household safety checklists.

• Kitchen: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your kitchen. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• Making the Holidays Safe

  Make the holidays fun and healthy by learning how to protect your kids from these common hazards.

• Medicines: Using Them Safely

  Giving kids medicine safely can be complicated. Here's how you can help treat your child's illness while you prevent dangerous reactions.

• Preventing Burns and Fires

  Burns, especially scalds from hot water and liquids, are some of the most common childhood accidents. Here's how to protect kids from burns.

• Preventing Choking

  Choking is usually caused by food, toys, and other small objects that can get stuck in a child's windpipe. Read about how to protect kids from choking hazards.

• Preventing House Fires

  Take the time now to review fire safety facts and tips to prevent fires in your home.

• Preventing Injuries From Electrical, Heating, and Cooling Systems

  These simple safety tips can help protect kids from injuries due to electrical, heating, and cooling appliances and systems.

• Preventing Injuries From Falling, Climbing, and Grabbing

  Here's how to help protect kids from a dangerous fall or a tumble into a sharp edge in your home.

• Preventing Cuts

  It's important to protect kids from sharp and dangerous items around and outside the home. Here are ways to prevent cuts and other injuries.

• Preventing Poisoning

  From fertilizer to antifreeze and medicines to makeup, poisonous items are throughout our homes. Here's how to protect your kids from ingesting a poisonous substance.

• Preventing Strangulation and Entrapment

  Kids can strangle or become entrapped in the most unexpected ways - even cords, strings on clothing, and infant furniture and accessories can be dangerous. Read how to prevent these dangers around your home.

• Preventing Suffocation

  Because babies aren't yet able to raise their heads, they need special protection from suffocation. But small children are at risk, too. Some simple rules can help you protect them.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Gates

  Gates placed at the top of stairs or in doorways are used to keep toddlers away from hazardous areas of the home. Here's what to look for.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Playpens

  Playpens are popular because parents can put their baby in one knowing that their little one can't wander off. But they're no substitute for adult supervision.

• Choosing Safe Toys

  Toys are a fun and important part of any child's development. And there's plenty you can do to make sure all toys are safe.

• Choosing Safe Toys for School-Age Kids

  Is your 10-year-old crying for a pellet gun? How about that used scooter? For help figuring out what toys are safe and appropriate for older kids, read these tips.

• Choosing Safe Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers

  How can you tell if a small toy poses a choking risk? What types of unsafe toys should you avoid for your baby, toddler, or preschooler? Find out here.

• Crib Safety

  Your baby will spend a lot of time in the crib, and it's your job to make sure it's always a safe environment. Here's how to ensure the safety of your littlest sleeper.

• Electrical, Heating & Cooling: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your heating and cooling elements, smoke detectors, and electrical systems. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• First-Aid Kit

  A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept in easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Learn where you should keep a kit and what to put in it.

• Food Safety

  Food safety is important. Here's how to be sure your kitchen and the foods you prepare in it are safe.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Cribs

  When you choose a crib, check it carefully to make sure that your baby's sleep space is safe. Here's how.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Changing Tables

  Babies can get hurt if they fall off changing tables, so they should always be watched closely. Here's what else to know.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Bathtubs

  Baby bathtubs give parents a safe way to wash a wet, slippery baby. Here's how to choose and use one.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products

  Choosing baby products can be confusing, but one consideration must never be compromised: your little one's safety.

• Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents

  You might think of babies and toddlers when you hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," but unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 and under.

• Button Battery Safety

  These small, shiny batteries are easy for babies and toddlers to swallow. Learn how to prevent injuries and know what to do if you think your child has swallowed one.

• Bedrooms: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your nursery, child's room, adult's bedroom. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• Bathroom, Laundry, and Garage: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your bathroom, garage, and laundry area. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• Backyard and Pool: Household Safety Checklist

  Use these checklists to make a safety check of your home, including your backyard and pool area. You should answer "yes" to all of these questions.

• Are Infant Walkers Safe?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Protecting Kids From Water & Drowning Hazards

  Water safety is important at any age, but especially if you have babies or toddlers. Here's how to reduce drowning risks.

• Bathroom Water Safety

  Always supervise young kids in the bath to keep them safe. Here are other bathroom water safety tips.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Infant Seats & Child Safety Seats

  Regular infant seats simply allow young babies to sit up. Never substitute any type of infant seat for a child safety seat (car seat).

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Carriers

  Babies love and need close contact, and infant carriers are ideal for nestling them against their parents. Here's how to use one safely.

• Fire Safety

  Find out how to prevent - and be ready for - a fire in your home.

• Choking

  Choking is an emergency, so it's important to recognize the signs of choking and know what to do if happens.

• Water Safety

  Kids need constant supervision around water — whether the water is in a bathtub, pool, the sea, or a water park. Here's how to keep them safe.

• Preventing Dog Bites

  Teaching kids a few basic dog manners will help them enjoy safe encounters with Fido.

• Pool Safety

  Having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub on your property is a huge responsibility when it comes to safety. Here’s how can you keep kids – yours and others – safe.

• Halloween Safety Tips

  From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time. But it can pose dangers to young revelers. For a trick-free treat, follow these simple safety tips.

• Halloween Candy Hints

  For health-conscious parents, Halloween can be tricky. Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? There isn't just one right answer.

• Hand Washing: Why It’s So Important

  Washing your hands well and often is the best way to keep from getting sick. Here's how to teach this all-important habit to your kids.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Toys

  All toys you select for your baby or toddler should meet safety standards. These tips can help you find safe toys for your little one.

• Diabetes: Getting Comfortable With a New Babysitter

  If you haven’t used a babysitter since your child was diagnosed with diabetes, you might have some questions about what to do. Here’s how to be prepared.

• What if My Child Was Exposed to Lead at School or Daycare?

  If your child’s school or daycare reported lead in their drinking water, here are some things to consider that can help you decide what to do.

• Lead Poisoning

  Long-term exposure to lead can cause serious health problems, particularly in young kids, so it's important to find out whether your child might be at risk for lead exposure.