By Kelsey Kimble
JACKSON, MI – Here are 10 steps from the Center for Family Health to help you keep your family safe and healthy:
1. Stay up to date on your family’s vaccinations. It’s a highly effective, safe and easy way to prevent infectious diseases that once killed infants, children and adults.
2. Teach your children not to share cups, eating utensils, straws and any other object they put in their mouths. They also should avoid sharing brushes and hats.
3. Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds. If there’s no soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Also, disinfect all surfaces that people regularly touch.
4. Replace toothbrushes every three or four months. And replace them immediately after an illness.
5. Buckle up. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people age 1 to 33. Adults should always use seat belts. Child-safety seats can reduce fatal accidents by 70 percent for children younger than 1 year old. Make sure child-safety seats are installed properly in the middle back seat. Unfortunately, 80 percent are installed incorrectly. If you are uncertain if your safety seats are installed properly, check with your local police.
6. Teach your children to stay safe at home, which includes not opening the front door to anyone except parents and grandparents. School-age children should memorize their address, phone number and parents' full names. Children should know and when to dial for emergency services. Children should avoid talking to strangers.
7. Prevent poisoning, which is the leading cause of unintentional deaths. Substances, such as carbon monoxide, pesticides, household chemicals and medications, contribute to the poisoning statistic. Keep chemicals in original containers in a childproof cabinet. Maintain a childproof cabinet for all medications. Install battery-operated carbon-monoxide detectors.
8. Be prepared for fire. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers can save lives. Test detectors monthly and change batteries twice a year. Have a fire safety plan, noting where everyone in the family should meet outside the house in case of a fire. Make sure all electrical appliances, cords and outlets are in good working condition.
9. Get your car ready for winter. Check the tire treads (if insufficient, replace with all-weather snow tires). Keep gas tank full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Use winter-formula washer fluid. Prepare a winter-emergency kit for the car, including a portable phone charger, flashlight, blankets, first-aid kit, flares, and bags of sand or kitty litter to help with traction. Add food and water in case of a breakdown.
10. Take care of your mental health. Take a break from news and social media. Get plenty of sleep; adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Keep in touch with your loved ones. Do something you enjoy and are good at. It can boost self-esteem and alleviate stress.
– Kelsey Kimble is a physician assistant who sees patients at the Center for Family Health, 505 N. Jackson St.
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October 04, 2020 at 07:00PM
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Center for Family Health column: How to keep your family safe and well - MLive.com
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