November is recognized as Child Safety and Protection Month, raising awareness about preventing injuries and accidents in children’s lives. This is a month for parents and caregivers to step up and ensure their child’s safety at home or in the community.
According to All For Kids, an estimate of 12,175 kids, ages 0-19, die each year from an unintentional, and often preventable, injury.
Safety starts with a stable home and a clean living space. Keeping dishes clean and running them through the dishwasher before using them is a top priority. Putting away toxic chemicals, right after use, in a high place out of children’s reach can help in preventing accidents. Healthcare providers see many cases of accidental ingestion of hazardous materials.
Purchasing strong medicine without a childproof cap on is dangerous and can lead to accidental overdose.
“Having childproof caps on medicine is important because the smell of medicine attracts kids’ attention- and they might think it’s yummy.” Woodlands High School Nurse Merliis Veuleman said.
Children can’t stay under your roof forever, they need to experience the outside world too. Children need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day, according to the Center for Disease Control.
The most important information to take in is to never leave your child outside alone. Children’s brains are not developed enough to make ‘smart’ decisions.Reminding your kids to wear helmets, stay away from the road, and not to talk to strangers can help keep your children safe.
According to Redcross, another important factor of a child’s safety involves water. Drowning is a leading cause of death for kids around the age of 4. Keeping a close watch on your child while they are in or around the pool can help prevent this. Even if a child knows how to swim, accidents happen all the time. While boating or in the ocean, your child should be wearing some type of flotation device due to strong currents and big waves.
As children age, they typically get phones, and, as a consequence, social media. The internet is not a safe place, there are many inappropriate images, scams, and bullies online. Establishing clear guidelines and discussing which apps a child can and can’t have is important. Teaching them not to share private information can help reduce the risk of kidnapping or sex trafficking. Justice.gov has more resources for victims and survivors.
Cyberbullying can be a cause of teen suicide in today’s society.
“Kids don’t have the capability to cope with the dangers of the internet. Social media is a major problem in this generation and leads to possible suicide. Seniors have a lot of stress built up, moving on with their life, they think their only option is death” Woodlands High School police officer, Galler said.
Recognizing the signs of online abuse or exploitation is important to ensure your child’s safety. Sudden behavior changes, unexpected financial activity, excessive time online, and withdrawal from social life can all be signs of a problem. Maintaining open communication with your children and keeping open dialogue with them can help to give you insight on if you need to reach out to an additional resource.
Overall, November is a reminder to protect children from dangers or threats. The world can be cruel, whether it’s in real life or online, so setting clear boundaries and having open communication will benefit everyone in the long run. Visit
