Injury prevention

It's a sad fact that injury is the number one cause of death and disability among children in the United States. Fortunately, most childhood injuries are preventable. As a parent, you can take proactive steps to help your child stay healthy and avoid injuries. It's important to take charge of your child's health and follow a program designed to help you and your family stay healthy and safe. Boston Children's Hospital's Injury Prevention Program offers a wealth of information and resources to help you keep your child safe and sound.

Preventing injury: what you can do

• Be a role model for your child, and have regular check-ups, eat healthy, exercise and don't smoke.
• Make sure your child has regular check-ups and immunizations.
• Provide a healthy diet and regular exercise for your child. Helping your child stay healthy and strong may help minimize problems when they do occur.
• Teach your child to wash his/her hands well, especially before meals and after using the toilet.
• Never leave a baby or young child alone—not even for a moment.
• Put babies to sleep on their backs or sides until they can turn over by themselves.
• Supervise your child and make sure he/she takes part in age-appropriate activities.
• Help your child learn how to handle anger and stress in appropriate ways.
• Learn about your child's school, friends and environment. Be on the look-out for unsafe behaviors and be ready to intervene if they occur.
• Teach your child how to be safe-at home, at school and with play and sports activities.
• There are many steps you can take to prevent sports injuries. Click here for more information.

Safety proofing your home

• Learn CPR, what to do if your child is choking and first-aid basics. Many organizations, such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association, offer courses in child and infant CPR.
• Install safety devices in your home such as smoke detectors, handrails, stairway gates and fire extinguishers. Cover electrical outlets, as needed.
• Place medicines, cleaners, chemicals and potential poisons out of your child's reach. Install safety locks on cabinets that contain dangerous or sharp items.
• Develop a fire escape plan and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of a fire.
• If you must keep a gun in the home, make sure it is unloaded and store it in a locked cabinet. Lock ammunition in a separate place.
• Wear your seat belts and make sure your child uses an approved car safety seat or seat belt that has been installed properly.
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy, including your local emergency medical services (EMS), your child's physician or healthcare provider, police, fire departments and your local poison center.
• Teach your child how to dial 911 or your local EMS system in case of an emergency.
• Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit handy at home and in the car.
  
   

Welcome to the Injury Prevention Program at
Boston Children's Hospital

Who we are

It’s a sad fact that injury is the number one cause of death and disability among children in the United States.

Fortunately, most childhood injuries are preventable. At Boston Children's Hospital, our Trauma Center's Injury Prevention Program is dedicated to dramatically decreasing the number of preventable injuries through research and public education.

We work in the local community, educating clinicians and families and distributing safety materials. Children's administers and supports many community initiatives designed to prevent childhood injury. We’re also conducting research to better understand how to prevent injury.

Learn more about our injury prevention initiatives.

 What we do

The Injury Prevention Program works with the Trauma Center to treat and prevent the most common and complex childhood injuries. Our network of pediatric specialists includes some of the world's most experienced pediatric physicians, clinicians and technicians.