Welcome to the Safe Kids Oregon Website
Working to prevent unintentional, preventable injury and death. The Oregon SAFE KIDS Coalition unites public and private organizations including who work together to reduce unintentional preventable injury and death in Oregon’s children Ages 0 – 14.
We hope that this website is not only a place to learn about Safe Kids in Oregon but also a resource for everyone working to prevent injuries to Oregon’s children. Visit Injury Areas for an Overview, Facts and Resources, Research and Laws.
June is Home Safety Month
Each year, an average of 2,096 children ages 14 and under die as a result of a home injury. Fires, suffocation and drowning are the leading causes of unintentional home injury deaths among children in this age group. Additionally choking, falls, poisoning and unintentional firearm injuries occur in the home.
“During the summer children spend more time at home. Keep the following safety tips in mind to help keep children safe and reduce worry,” says Ruth Harshfield, Safe Kids Oregon Director.
Home Safety Tip Sheet – Encourage families to conduct a quick check of their home to protect the people they love!
Home Safety Tip Sheet – English
Home Safety Tip Sheet – Spanish
Prevent Falls
- Use stair gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- Install window stops or guards on upper windows.
Prevent Poisonings
- Keep cleaners, medications and beauty products where children can’t reach them.
- Keep Poison Help 1-800-222-1222 handy for help or information on poisons.
Prevent Fires and Burns
- Have working smoke alarms and hold fire drills.
- Use tape to set up a “kid-free zone” three feet in front of the stove. Use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
- Set hot water at 120F degrees to prevent burns.
Prevent Choking and Suffocation
- Keep coins, latex balloons and hard round foods, such as peanuts and hard candy where children cannot see or touch them.
- Keep small magnets away from young children who might swallow them. This includes magnets found in construction sets, children’s toys, stress-relieving adult desk toys, and refrigerator magnets.
- Make sure older children know that magnets are not toys or jewelry.
- Place babies to sleep on their backs, alone in their crib. Don’t put pillows, blankets, bumpers, comforters or toys in cribs.
Prevent Drowning
- When children are in or near water, watch them very carefully.
- Stay close enough to reach out and touch them. This includes bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas – even buckets of water.
