84 HAWAII PARENT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 remember to remove clutter and other reachable toddler hazards (including electrical outlets and cords) in play areas. Secure furniture. Use wall mounts, brackets, braces and anchors to prevent furniture and TVs from tipping over. Add padding to sharp table corners. And, for keiki furniture, ensure it meets safety standards and is used properly (with safety straps and buckles for highchairs and changing tables, for example). Always supervise on high places. Closely supervise young children on top of beds, changing tables and couches to make sure they don’t accidentally roll off. Additionally, save the excitement of bunkbeds for elementary-aged children, not toddlers. Watch windows. What’s outside can spark a child’s interest – and also lead to fatal falls. Install window guards; only open out-of-reach windows; remove furniture near windows; don’t rely on screens brain injuries and other severe injuries. Taking steps to ensure children are playing in a safe space and knowing ageappropriate safe falling techniques can help mitigate injuries from falls. Select a safe space to play. “Please learn immediately that ‘fall prevention’ is a misnomer!” explains Vercruyssen. “To me that’s like reducing the number of drowning injuries by implementing a campaign to stay out of the water (thus ‘swimming prevention’).” Instead of trying to completely prevent falls, which is nearly impossible, caregivers can create safe spaces for children to play. Think soft surfaces. Like the tumbling mats at Hawaii Academy, floor surfaces should be soft and secure to soften impacts. Slip-resistant padded mats or area rugs secured with double-sided tape on top of foam padding are good options for young children’s play spaces. Also, Elevated surfaces, such as furniture and windows, pose significant risk if not adequately secured and supervised. “Save the excitement of bunkbeds for elementary-aged children, not toddlers.”
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