Working in the emergency department (ED) means that you get to see people come in for all kinds of reasons and various conditions. After working as a nurse practitioner in the Children’s Minnesota emergency department for three years and pediatric primary care for 11 years, Hannah is sharing the five things she wouldn’t let her kids do below.
Co-sleeping as a newborn
Co-sleeping as a newborn can lead to suffocation or strangulation. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is also 10 times higher when sleeping with an adult compared to sleeping in a crib. Learn more about the risks of co-sleeping or bed sharing here.
Accidently ingesting medication or THC edibles
It is important that parents and guardians lock up any medication and THC edibles in the home. Especially when it comes to THC edibles as they often come looking like candy and easy-to-open packaging – making it alluring to kids. After ingesting these, it is common for kids to come into the emergency department unconscious or be found down at home. Head here for tips on how to store THC edibles away from kids.
Playing on a frozen lake or being around water without adult supervision
When kids are playing on a frozen lake or really, just near any body of water, it is important that there is an adult actively supervising. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death in kids ages 1-4. Check out our blog about swimming safety for more tips.
Not knowing what a gun looks like and what to do if they see one
All guns in the home should be locked up for safety, especially if you have kids or teens in the home. Talking to your kids and teens about guns and what to do if they encounter one is another crucial preventative step for gun safety. Even if your family chooses to not have guns in the home, it is still important to have the conversation in the scenario that they encounter one at someone else’s home. Get more gun safety and gun violence talking tips from our experts.
Being a passenger on a riding lawn mower
Not only is there a high risk of a child falling off and getting injured by the blade or runover while being a passenger on a riding lawn mower but there is also the potential of having rocks or other debris fly up and cause serious eye injuries.
