Family Safety Tips: Keep Your Family Safe with Simple Preparation

Being prepared is the best thing you can do to keep your family safe! From a small emergency like a skinned knee to a major house fire, being prepared can be the difference between safety and danger. Here are some simple safety tips you can employ to keep your family out of harm's way.

It is a good idea to teach your kids about animal safety and how to stay safe around animals, even if they know whom the animal belongs to. A friendly neighborhood dog can have a mood swing and bite your unsuspecting child. Animals are not predictable. You may want to teach your child to ask the owner of the pet for permission before petting or approaching their family friend.

Make sure you and your family always wear seat belts and have younger children in appropriate safety seats according to their age and weight. Check with your state Department of Motor Vehicles for guidelines and child safety seat regulations.

Once your kids get old enough to ride bikes without training wheels, it is imperative to help them protect their noggins. You can cut down the risks of injury and even death just by having your child wear a helmet. Set a good example by wearing one yourself when you go out for a family bike ride. Even if your child has a skateboard or wears rollerblades, it is also a good idea to make a helmet rule.

When an emergency looms in the distance, it is best to have all of your contact information on paper so you don't have a brain freeze when you're in the middle of a panic attack. Make a list for each member of your family that includes any allergies or sensitivities, medications and dosages, and any pre-existing illness or surgeries.

Talk to your children about safety. Make sure they know how to call 9-1-1 and know 2 escape routes should a fire begin. Plan regular family fire drills to practice. Make sure your smoke detectors are stocked with fresh batteries and your fire extinguishers are operable.

Teach your kids about gun, pet, and stranger safety. Keep your medicine cabinet well stocked and updated with current medications. It is a good idea to keep a first-aid kid in your house, car, camper or boat for emergencies.

Here are some safety precautions to take when taking medications. Never give medicines to someone for whom they are not prescribed. Take the correct dosage and read the labels carefully. If your family is already taking a medication, make sure that any new medications are compatible. Take an inventory of your medicine cabinet and first aid kits once a year. If medications are not in original containers or clearly labeled, throw them away. Get educated on poison control. Keep syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal in your cabinet. Only give these after you have called poison control.

Enjoy activities but put your safety cap on.