Helmets are essential for many outdoor winter activities. The risk of head injury is too great to leave the helmet in a closet at home. Helmets prevent or reduce the effects of 53 percent of the head injuries suffered by children while skiing or snowboarding.

Children should bundle up and enjoy the outdoors. Before heading out, it is important to remember a few key items in addition to the hat and gloves.

In addition to food, family, and gifts, decorations are one of the highlights of the holiday season. While candles, Christmas trees, and other decorations are part of the holiday spirit, they can pose fire and poisoning hazards, especially to curious children.

The holidays are a time for spending with family and friends, not for rushing to the emergency room. Once all of your decorations are up, keep a close eye on both children and the decorations themselves.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Follow some simple safety tips to protect your family and your home.

Naturally, you want your children to have a safe play environment with safe toys.  Did you know that in 2009, there were an estimated 181,900 toy-related injuries?  And that children under 5 accounted for nearly half of these injuries? 

Do your children like small play balls and balloons? These kinds of toys account for many choking deaths.  Do your children like riding toys – unpowered scooters or tricycles?  They are associated with more injuries than any other toy group; in fact half of the toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms were caused by unpowered riding toys.  In addition to other hazards, any electrical toy is a potential burn hazard. 

Make sure your children play safely by following some simple safety tips.

Top Toy Safety Tips

• Be sure your children play with toys that are age-appropriate.  Read the warning labels before buying toys for your children.

• Look for well-made toys

• Check toys regularly for damage that could create hazards.  Repair or discard damaged toys immediately.

• Make sure that discarded toys are out of children’s reach.

• Watch your children while they play.  Be aware of potential dangers like small parts, cords and strings, moving parts, electrical or battery-powered cords or wheels

• Do not allow riding toys near stairs, traffic or swimming pools

• Teach children to put toys away after playing.  Toys intended for younger children should be stored separately from those suitable for older children

• Make sure toy chests are open (no lid) or have safety hinges.

Because young children may not recognize danger or may lack the ability to escape a life-threatening burn situation, parents need to take the necessary precautions to make sure their children are not exposed to items that may cause fires or burns.

Safe Kids New Jersey offers these safety tips to help parents keep their children safe in the kitchen on Thanksgiving and throughout the year.         

Prevent Cooking Fires

• Never leave hot food or appliances unattended while cooking. If you are frying, grilling or broiling food stay in the kitchen.  If you are baking, boiling, or simmering food, check food frequently.
• Always be alert when you are cooking.  If you are under the influence of medication or alcohol, avoid using the stove or stovetop.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire at least 3 feet from the stove, toaster oven, or other heat source. 
• Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
• Do not wear loose fitting clothes when you are cooking as they may catch fire from the stovetop.

Prevent burns and scalds

• To prevent hot food or liquid spills, use the stove’s back burner and/or turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
• Keep appliance cords coiled, away from the counter edges and out of children’s reach, especially if the appliances contain hot foods or liquids. 
• Use oven mitts or potholders when carrying hot food.
• Open hot containers from the microwave slowly and away from your face.
• Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.

Keep Your Kids Safe

• Create a 3 foot Kid Free Zone around the stove. Young children should be more than 3 feet from any place where there is hot food, drinks, pans or trays.
• Never hold a child while cooking, carrying or drinking hot foods or liquids.
• Hot foods and items should be kept from the edge of counters and tables.
• Do not use a tablecloth or placemat if very young children are in the home.
• When children are old enough, teach them to cook safely and always with help from an adult.

When it’s time to “fall back” and change the clocks on Sunday, Nov. 7, make sure to check the batteries in all of your smoke alarms – it could save your life.

Did you know that having a working smoke alarm reduces a person’s chance of dying in a fire by half? For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area, and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings, and tested monthly.

It’s important to replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, unless they’re 10-year lithium batteries. Even if your smoke alarms are hardwired, replace the batteries in case of a power outage.

To learn more, visit our Fire Safety page.

With summer ending and the start of school just around the corner, drivers need to do their part to keep kids safe as they walk and bike to school. Whether you are taking your kids to school or just driving through a school zone, you can do your part to keep kids safe. August is designated as Back-to-School Safety Month, and we want to remind motorists to be extra careful at all times.

Follow the tips below to make sure you keep your children safe while walking and biking to school.

Top Back to School Safety Tips

Here are some simple reminders for drivers:

• Slow down and be especially alert in the residential neighborhoods and school zones.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
• Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours.
• Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Put down your phone and don’t talk or text while driving.

Reminders for your kids:

• They should cross the street with an adult until the age of 10.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Never run out into the streets or cross in between parked cars.
• Make sure they always walk in front of the bus where the driver can see them.

Summer memories often include lighting sparklers and watching fireworks during 4th of July celebrations, however, hundreds of children are injured from fireworks each summer. 

Fireworks can cause serious burn and eye injuries. In 2009, 3,300 children ages 0-14 were injured from fireworks. Of these injuries, 70% occurred in the weeks surrounding July 4th.

The safest choice to leave is to leave fireworks to be used by professionals. 

• Children should never play with or light fireworks or sparklers.
• Adults who use fireworks should not use them around children.

How much do you know about fireworks safety? Take the Safe Kids firework safety quiz: http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-spotlight/fireworks-safety/fireworks-safety-quiz.html

Safe Kids New Jersey wishes all parents and children a safe 4th of July!

We urge all parents and caregivers to NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE IN A CAR for any reason or any amount of time.  Here are some tips to be sure your child does not get left unknowingly in a vehicle:

• Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
• Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or whatever is to be carried from the car on the floor in front of a child in a backseat. This forces the adult to open the back door and observe the child when they reach for their belongings.
• Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
• Set your computer “outlook” program to ask, “Did you drop off at daycare today?”
• Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
• Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
• Lock all vehicle doors and trunk – especially at home. The car is not a playground.
• Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.

For more information go to www.safekids.org/nlyca .

Help bring peace of mind to the moms in your life with Safety Basics from Safe Kids.

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Whether your kids are elite athletes or just shooting hoops in the driveway, Safe Kids New Jersey has tips for keeping kids injury-free so they can stay in the game:

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Every child should receive a pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE) every year. These exams help with the prevention and treatment of any underlying conditions the young athlete may have.

BEFORE PRACTICE, PLAY OR COMPETITION: Warming up and stretching before play is essential. This helps athletes avoid injuries such as muscle tears or sprains by stretching and releasing any muscle tension.

HYDRATION: Hydrating well before, during and after practices and games is a must.

GEAR: Wearing the appropriate and properly fitted sports equipment can help avoid minor and serious injuries such as concussions.

QUALIFIED COACHING: Become properly trained and learn the sport-specific techniques that can prevent injury or illness that can occur.

SUPPORTIVE PARENTING: Learn how you can help your child stay injury-free and optimally healthy.

Parents, share the Safe Sports Tip Sheet and visit Safe Kids USA to take the Sports Safety Pledge.

Find a Safe Kids New Jersey sports safety event near you.