Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Children’s of Alabama

COMMON INJURY TYPES BY AGE

Elementary (Ages 6–12)

FIREARMS • Firearms should be kept LOCKED AND UNLOADED with ammunition stored and locked separately. A cable lock is a good method to keep your gun secure. Ask about presence and storage of guns in the homes where your child will be playing or visiting. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY • Children should ride in the back until they are 13 years of age. • Children need to be in booster seats until the lap and shoulder belt fit them properly to prevent injury in a crash. • An alarming number of this age group are hurt on all-terrain Vehicles (called ATVs or four-wheelers). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no child under 16 years old use ATVs because they lack sufficient strength, coordination and judgment to operate them safely. BURNS • Children need supervision while in the kitchen and using the microwave, stove, etc. One of the most common burn injuries in this age group is from spills of scalding hot microwavable individual servings of soups, noodle bowls, etc.

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