Suffocation Prevention

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in young children. Three key ways to prevent accidents are:

• Understanding the child's stage of development, coordination, skills & behavior patterns.
• Improving the quality of care-taking & supervision.
• Safe-proofing the environment.

Pullstring Doll

Toys with long strings can cause strangulation.

Pillows & Soft Toys

Keep pillows & soft toys out of the crib during infancy.

Headboard

Cribs should not have corner posts or finials & there should not be any decorative cut-outs on the head & foot boards.

Crib Slats

Check crib slats to be sure they are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. A baby's body can slide through the slats, entrapping the head & causing strangulation.

Mattress

Mattresses should fit tightly into the crib with no gaps that could entrap a baby's head.

Blanket

Avoid using too many blankets during sleep; instead, consider dressing your infant in a footed sleeper.

Curtains

Make sure cords from window blinds & curtains are out of children's reach.

Rocking Chair

Be aware of any furniture with rails, slats or spindles that are wide enough for a child's body to slip through, but small enough to entrap the head, causing strangulation.

Couch

Do not allow your infant to sleep on a couch or waterbed. These soft surfaces can trap a baby's face & cause suffocation.

Hooded Sweatshirt

Children's hooded sweatshirts & jackets should not have strings in the hood.

Plastic Bags

Plastic bags or plastic wrapping should be taken out of the house immediately & put in the trash can.

Refrigerator

It is illegal to have an unused refrigerator unless the door has been removed or the latch has been disabled. Refrigerators are air-tight & death can occur when curious children crawl inside & are unable to get out.

Cooler

Keep picnic/camping coolers out of children's reach.

Storage Boxes

Watch out for small, confined, air-tight containers like trunks and large plastic storage boxes. Curious children can climb in during a game of hide-and-seek without realizing the danger.

Garage Door

Automatic garage doors have been known to pin a child, causing suffocation.

Balloons

Keep balloons away from young children & supervise older children during use.

Climbing Rope

Climbing ropes on playground equipment should be anchored at the top & bottom to prevent the rope from wrapping around a child's neck.

Playground Equipment

Check playground equipment, like rings, for small spaces that could trap the child's head.