I’m excited to welcome on the podcast today Holly Choi, co-owner and instructor of Safe Beginnings which educates caregivers and professionals with essential lifesaving skills for small children.
ABOUT SAFE BEGINNINGS
Holly and her sister and founded Safe Beginnings in North Vancouver, BC and since 2016 have taught over 10,000 caregivers and professionals essential lifesaving skills. They are currently Canada’s leading provider of infant and toddler-focused safety courses which focus on first aid, CPR, and carseat safety.
SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR CHILD’S ROOM
#1) CORDS.
- Cords. Cords of any kind can be a strangulation hazard and should be kept at least 3 feet away from the crib. This includes monitor cords. Consider mounting your monitor on a shelf across the room.
- Blinds. Blinds can be a strangulation hazard as well as a way for the child to climb out of the crib.
- Crib Bumpers. Crib bumpers, including mesh bumpers, are not recommended. They pose a strangulation hazard as well as can be used as leverage to climb out of the crib.
#2) LOOSE BEDDING.
- Loose bedding can be a safety hazard. Consider tight fitting sheets or using a sleep sack.
#3) HEAVY WALL ITEMS.
- Never mount heavy items like signs or decorations near or over a crib. Current nursery trends are doing this, but we must always consider things can shift or simply fall off the wall. If you are living in an earthquake zone, this is especially important. When looking an nursery designs, consider the potential safety hazards first.
#4) CHANGE TABLES.
- The leading way infants are hospitalized every year worldwide is rolling off an elevated surface. This can be a couch or bed, but the main culprit is usually the change table. The reason we have children rolling off elevated surfaces is we are making assumptions about their development. When you think they can’t roll or crawl or walk, that is the day they will. Make sure you always have one hand on your child at all times while on a change table. The only way to keep a child in a change pad without your hands on them would be with a 5-point harness, and you can’t change their diapers with that on! Pediatric societies worldwide now suggest changing diapers on the floor to avoid an injury, although this can be hard on your back and is not accessible to everyone. So, always keep one hand on baby, and always keep diaper drawers really well stocked to avoid needing to step away. If you need to walk away, take your child with you or place them on the ground. A common myth is that newborns can’t roll. This is FALSE. A newborn CAN roll. They may not have the intention to, but they carry enough weight in their head where a movement of their head can cause their body to follow.
#5) ANCHOR FURNITURE.
- If you had one baby-proofing item you could do in your home, what would it be? Answer – anchor your furniture! Regardless of where your furniture is made or how expensive it was, if it is big and heavy it can fall on a child. We need to make sure anything that is heavy or can become top-heavy needs to be anchored to a wall. Current recommendations are anything that is 3ft or taller needs to be anchored to the wall.
>>Anchoring Furniture – Tips From The Pros
IF YOU HAVE ANXIETY OVER CHILD SAFETY
- The more information you can get, and the more prepared you can be will help you be more at ease. It is important to get qualified information from a good source.
HOW CAN WE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOLLY AND SAFE BEGINNINGS?
Holly Choi
Co-Owner, Safe Beginnings First Aid
Lifesaving Society Certified First Aid Instructor
www.safebeginnings.ca
CPSAC Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician-Instructor (CPST-I)
www.saferseats.ca / www.hollychoi.ca
Follow us on Social Media!
facebook www.facebook.com/safebeginningsfirstaid/
instagram @safebeginnings
Check out our NEW online course!
Available online 24/7 at-your-own-pace:Â www.safebeginnings.ca/online
LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:
>Check out our video-based Infant/Child CPR, Choking + Injury Prevention course
