Call Richland County Children Services 24-hours a day 7 days
a week if you are concerned about the well-being of a child. To
report Child Abuse and Neglect, call 419-774-4100.
SUN SAFETY
Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight,
light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the
sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear a hat or to use an
umbrella.
WINDOW SAFETY:
To prevent a child from falling out
of an open window, window guards or window stops should be
installed. Never rely on window screens to prevent a fall.
Make sure second story windows are secure and fitted with screens to
help prevent a fall.
When possible, open windows from the top, not the bottom. It is also
advisable to keep furniture away from windows that a child can fall
out of.
WATER / POOL SAFETY
Fences with self-closing,
self-latching gates should completely surround your pool. Keep
rescue equipment and a phone near the pool at all times. Life
jackets should be worn while in rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans
while boating, water-skiing, jet skiing, or tubing. Never leave a
child unobserved around water. Maintain "reach supervision" for
young children. That is, always be within arms reach of a child in
case an emergency arises.
RECREATIONAL SAFETY
Children should always wear the
appropriate protective gear while participating in recreational
activities. It is also essential for children to drink adequate
amounts of liquids while participating in recreational activities to
avoid dehydration. Parents should also ensure that their children
are in appropriate physical condition for the activities they are
involved in, that they are playing in safe environment.
Keep children away from the grill, and make sure any backyard games
are conducted at a safe distance from the grill.
Fireworks that are often thought to be safe (ie. sparklers), can
reach temperatures above 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, and can burn users
and bystanders. Families should attend community fireworks displays
run by professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Children
should avoid playgrounds with hard surfaces such as concrete
or asphalt. Playgrounds with loose-fill material such as sand should
be preferred. Parents should always supervise children when they are
using playground equipment.
BIKING SAFETY
Wear a helmet. Head injury is the
leading cause of death in bicycle accidents. Appropriate fitting
head gear should be worn at all times.
DRIVING SAFETY
When school is out of
session, be mindful that there will be more children playing
outside. Watch for children riding bikes or kids playing near the
street when backing out of your driveway.
CAR SAFETY
All
children ages 15 and under should be properly restrained in the back
seat. Infants should ride in rear-facing safety seats whenever
possible. Children under 8 years old or 4'9" should be secured in
belt-positioning booster seats until regular seat belts fit
appropriately.
Never leave your child in the car unsupervised. A dark dashboard or
seat can easily reach temperatures in excess of 180 degrees
Fahrenheit.
CHILD SAFETY REGARDING STRANGERS
Always check first with a parent,
guardian, or trusted adult before going anywhere, accepting
anything, or getting into a car with anyone.
