A lot of time and attention is paid to the threats facing our kids today. While the world may seem like an increasingly dangerous place, the fact is that it is not.
In the U.S., for example, just the past fifty years has shown an enormous drop in child mortality rates (deaths under age 5), from 30 per 100,000 in 1960 to less than 8 in 2011. Worldwide, childhood deaths are dropping by the hundreds of thousands each year due to factors like improved access to immunizations.
For example, a 2002 study by the U.S. Department of Justice examined child abduction rates for 1999, and while 800,000 children were considered missing that year, only 115 of those were “stereotypical kidnappings,” the kind you hear about on the news. Of those, about 52 were killed or never seen again.
While these numbers can in no way reflect the anguish of losing a child to abduction, that same year nearly 1,400 children died in the U.S. as a result of abuse or neglect. And that number has continued to grow.
So how do we keep our children safe? And how do we distinguish real danger from the sensationalized, especially in light of the 24-hour news cycle? It is easier than you think:
Make Sure They Used Helmets & Seatbelts
The number one killer of children is unintentional injury. This includes car accidents, bike accidents, sports and school injuries, as well as other types of injuries. 68%, though, are caused by car accidents, and 24% of those deaths involved a drunk driver. Be sure your child is always properly restrained in a vehicle, whether in a seatbelt or child safety seat that is correctly installed. Not sure if you’re using your car seat right? Your local police and fire departments are happy to help with car seat installation.
Put a helmet on your child when bicycling or playing a sport that involves balls flying at their heads or heavy contact. Eyesight problems will be a contributory factor to sports injuries. Make sure you take your kids to a local, family run vision center to be checked regularly. This keeps them safe and protects their long term eye health. Be sure your local and school playgrounds adhere to current safety standards. Talk to your children about drinking and driving and remind them never to go in a vehicle with someone who has been drinking.
Make Sure They Keep Safe Company
A surprising top killer of children is homicide. Know who your children are with and where they are. Trust your instincts. If you are suffering from severe depression, seek the help of a professional. Likewise, if you grew up as the victim of childhood neglect or abuse, get professional help before you repeat the cycle.
Get Them Immunized
This recommendation is not controversial when you consider the history of the diseases immunizations prevent. In 1952, there were nearly 60,000 cases of polio reported in the U.S. and 3,000 deaths. Those who did not die often suffered lifelong disabilities and infirmities as a result of having had polio. And polio cannot be cured, only prevented. It can be prevented so well, in fact, that in 2010 only 1,350 cases were reported worldwide. While the science is out on whether or not certain children have an adverse response to immunizations, the benefits are of vaccinations are irrefutable.
Feed Them Well
Childhood obesity rates increase every year and are currently around 20%, which is small compared to adult obesity rates of 35% and growing. It’s not enough to keep your child healthy now – just as you tell your child not to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, engage in risky sexual behavior or drive dangerously, teaching your children to eat a healthy diet and to exercise will do more than any of these things to extend their lives.
Toss the soda and strawberry milk and give your kids water to drink. Replace chips and crackers with fruits and vegetables. Instead of fast food eaten in the car, make the time to eat healthy, well-balanced meals at home as a family. Talk to them about what being healthy means. Besides improving your child’s health, you will also benefit from these simple measures.
With a little common sense and a lot of communication, keeping your children healthy and safe is easier than you think. Stop worrying so much about the rare events that make the news and focus instead on the simple daily actions that can have lifelong consequences.
About the author: Lyn Wilson is a mother and a writer who lives in North Carolina. She has always believed that prevention is better than the cure when it comes to keeping your kids safe and these simple, and cost effective tips will get you on the right track.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Klaus Sandrini.