Alberto Marante, MD on Overlooked Safety Concerns for Children

Every parent in Peoria wants what is best for their children. Alberto Marante, MD has years of experience witnessing some of the dangers that children face, and he offers his health and safety advice for parents with children of all ages. Keeping children safe and healthy requires a great deal of time and attention, but these tips can help parents stay organized and prioritize their efforts.

Vaccines

While vaccines have been derided by certain parts of the parenting community, proper vaccination is crucial to a child’s health and safety. Childhood diseases in past decades should not be considered “rites of passage” since each one can have serious complications. Chickenpox can lead to infection, dehydration, encephalitis, and pneumonia. It can be very dangerous for people with compromised immune systems.

The flu vaccine is important for children over 6 months of age and adults of all ages. The vaccine will not only protect your child from the flu, but it will also help your community retain “herd immunity” and protect children who are too young to be vaccinated along with vulnerable populations that cannot receive the vaccine themselves.

There are many other childhood diseases with safe and effective vaccinations. Parents should follow their doctor's recommendations and adhere to state guidelines.

Car Seat Safety

One of the leading causes of death for children under the age of 13 is car accidents. Modern car seat regulations mean that children are safe and protected up to the age of 8 and beyond. Many recent advances in car seat technology have been made, meaning that the current car seats on the market are much safer than older seats.

In 2019, Illinois will require that all children under the age of 2 be placed in a rear-facing car seat. This is a significant change from older regulations, which allowed turning car seats around when children were as young as one year. Crash tests have proven that rear facing for as long as possible is the safest way to travel.

Up to the age of four or five, children should ride in a car seat with a five-point harness. Older children should be placed in belt-positioning boosters until they are tall enough and mature enough to use a car seatbelt. Again, strict age requirements should not be used to determine who should sit in a booster seat. Belt-positioning boosters prevent the seatbelt from choking a child in case of a crash and ensure that the child remains in the best possible position. A general rule is to keep the child in a booster seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Weather Safety

Keeping your family safe from weather is important in Peoria. Peoria has an extensive history of severe weather, including tornadoes. When a tornado warning happens in your area, go to the lowest level of your home and stay away from windows and doors. A windowless interior room or basement is ideal. If you are in a tall building and cannot reach the basement, shelter in an interior room or hallway. No mobile home should be considered tornado safe. If you live in a mobile home, you should seek shelter in a nearby building.

Water Safety

One area which many parents overlook is water and pool safety. When you protect your pool, you are protecting not only your own children but also others who may wander onto your property. Swimming pools of all types should be protected with a locking fence at least 4 feet high. These fences should be constructed to make them difficult to climb. Exterior doors in your home should be alarmed, meaning that you will be able to hear an alert tone if a young child goes out to the pool area unattended. Drowning can happen in seconds, and many people who experience this tragic loss were not aware that their child was outside.

Beach and pond safety are equally important. Make sure to watch children at all times, even if they can swim well. Young children should use life preservers if they are not able to swim. Pool floats and inflatables should not be considered as replacements for life preservers.

Keep Your Family Secure

These four areas present challenges to parents who need to keep their families safe. By following these simple guidelines, parents can breathe easier and feel confident that they are doing their best. Alberto Marante, MD suggests that all parents follow these recommendations to prevent their children from experiencing illness or accidental death.