Preventing Unintentional Injuries Overview

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How to prevent unintentional injuries:

Many unintentional injuries and emergencies can be prevented by reevaluating your family's health habits, lifestyles, and risks. Early detection and a prompt response is crucial in keeping situations manageable, and from becoming an emergency.

It is important to take charge of your health and to follow a program which is designed to help you and your family stay healthy, while providing a safe environment.

There are two sides to prevention, including the following:

Exercise regularly.
Do not smoke.
Eat a healthy diet.
Have routine examinations and check-ups with your physician.
Monitor your weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.
Follow the nationally recommended immunization schedule for children and adults.
Learn the warning signs and symptoms of diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and heart conditions.
Learn basic first-aid techniques, including CPR.
Manage stress.
Put safety first.

Supervise all children's activities, especially swimming.
Install safety devices in your home, such as smoke detectors, hand rails, and fire extinguishers.
Maintain heating equipment, and unplug supplemental heaters when sleeping.
Develop a fire escape route and plan, and make sure each family member knows what to do in case of emergency.
Set your water heater thermostat to 120° F or below to prevent scald burns.
Wear appropriate safety equipment at home, work, or play.
Always insist that all passengers are wearing seat belts, and that children are restrained in car seats properly.
If your car has air bags, make sure small children are seated in the rear seat.
Read and understand the labels on medications and food products.
Store medications and potential poisons in a safe place, away from children.
Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit at home, work, and in the car.
Keep a list of emergency numbers in your home, business, and place of play, including the police, fire department, poison control center, local emergency service (if different than 911), local hospital, and family physician.