Child’s Safety - Two Years

A 2-year old runs, jumps and climbs anything within reach. There is a high risk of injury because the child knows no fear and does not understand the consequences of actions. Child requires supervision and guidance to reduce injury.

Outdoor Play Safety

• Watch and help child when playing on slides, swings, and seesaws.
• Playground surface should be soft, such as chipped rubber, wood chips, or sand.
• Don’t allow fighting or pushing among children.
• Equipment should be safe for age group, made of plastic or soft material, and in good repair.
• Stay with child when riding tricycle.
  • Child must wear an approved well-fitting helmet.
• Keep alert for strangers or older children.

Falls

• Never allow your child to stand up in stroller, high chair, or shopping cart.
• Never leave alone on any high surface.
• Keep chairs, beds, and tables away from windows, even those with screens.
• Hold your child’s hand on stairs and escalators and teach your child to hold onto handrails.
• When child can climb out of the crib, change to a low small or youth bed.

Safety Measures if Child Falls

Call doctor, 911, or other emergency number if:

• Child has possible head, neck, or back injury.
• There is bleeding from any body area that can’t be stopped with slight pressure.
• Child has seizure – do not restrain or put anything in mouth, do rescue breathing if child stops breathing.

Call 911/Emergency Number when Child is:

• Unconscious (not responding).
• Choking (not responding to Heimlich/abdominal thrusts).
• Unable to breathe.

Water Safety

• Keep child away from ponds, ditches, rain barrels, pails.
• Do not allow running, pushing or dunking at pools.
• Do not use inflatable toys, floats, or arm bands to keep afloat
  • Supervise at all times, keep within arm’s length.
• Remove toys from pool after use so the child won’t reach for them and fall in.
• Do not have siblings or other children watch child for you.
• Know CPR and how to rescue a child.

Fire and Burn Prevention

• Keep child away from heaters, fireplaces, hot stoves, and lit candles.
• Cook on back burners and turn pot handles inward.
• Do not leave lighters or matches in reach of children.
• Keep chemicals and cleaners locked and away from your child.
• Supervise child during family outdoor grill cooking.
• Maintain smoke alarms, fire extinguisher and fire escape plan.

Safe Environment

• Stay with child when eating at the table or in a high chair – be prepared if child chokes.
• Help prevent choking by not giving child hotdogs, hard candy, olives, popcorn, carrots, grapes or nuts.
• Keep children away from plants and stoves.
• Know CPR and first aid – obtain a first aid kit.
• Make sure used cribs, safety seats, and playpens meet current safety standards.

Injury Prevention Service, OSDH, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Revised September 2012

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