Contact: Jill Holder

Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center is the leading injury prevention and research program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information about KIPRC, please call (859) 257-4954 or visit www.kiprc.uky.edu.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 2, 2004) -- Injuries are the number one cause of death for children aged 17 and younger in Kentucky. However, most of these deaths are preventable with the proper precautions. The Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) at the University of Kentucky suggests the following 10 New Year’s safety resolutions to keep your children safe.

1. I will make sure that my child uses an age-appropriate car seat and that it is used correctly. I will call the Kentucky SAFE KIDS Coalition at (859) 257-4954 to find out which car seat is right for my child.
2. I will childproof cabinets that contain medications, vitamins, cosmetics, and household cleaners.
3. I will be sure that my child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle, tricycle, skateboard or scooter. I will call the Kentucky SAFE KIDS Coalition if I need information on helmets.
4. I will never leave my infant or toddler alone in a bathtub because I know about the risk of drowning.
5. I will not leave plastic bags, cords or other articles around which might cause my infant or young child to strangle or suffocate.
6. I will test my smoke alarms regularly and replace the batteries once a year. I will call the Kentucky Residential Fire Injury Prevention Program at (859) 257-4954 for more information about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
7. I will not allow my child who is under 16 to drive an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). I will make sure that my over-16-year-old child has attended an ATV safety course before driving. I will never allow my child to ride “double” with another person of any age on an ATV. To register my child for a safety course, I will call the Rider Course at (800) 446-9227.
8. I will post the number of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center, (800) 222-1222, on the refrigerator and call it in an emergency for quick advice about poisoning.
9. I will never shake my baby or beat my child. If I need help to control my emotions, I will call the Parents Help Line at (800) 432-9251.
10. I will purchase and install gun safety locks on all firearms in and around my home, or store guns and other dangerous weapons in a locked cabinet.

KIPRC also suggests taking a basic first aid and CPR courses at your local American Red Cross so you can know what to do when someone is injured.

You can call the American Red Cross in Lexington at (859) 253-1331, or in Louisville at (502) 589-4450.

Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center is the leading injury prevention and research program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For more information about KIPRC, please call (859) 257-4954 or visit www.kiprc.uky.edu.