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SALT LAKE CITY -- Safety advocates have launched a weekend awareness campaign of child safety. Friday, they held an open house to illustrate the dangers in our homes.
In the kitchen, Poison Control officials showed how medicine resembles fruit juice and dishwashing soap looks like lifesavers. They advise: lock up not only household cleaners, but perfumes and other personal care items, which are the No. 1 source of poisoning.
"The reason for that is people don't realize those are poisons and they just leave them out," explained Marty Malheiro, outreach education coordinator for the Utah Poison Control Center.
In the hall, the fire marshals' office advises fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
Different messages in each room, but the goal in all is reduce childhood injuries. Each day in Utah, 125 kids go the emergency room for injuries, many of which could have been prevented.
"Injuries kill more children than any other type of disease or any other type of illness or killer of children by far," said Dr. Charles Pruitt, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Primary Children's Medical Center.
One of the biggest dangers isn't in the house, but in front of it: the driveway. The no. 1 hazard there, as in many places, is lack of supervision.
"A second turns into 10 minutes for a parent sometimes, so we just cannot be vigilant enough in the adequate supervision of kids," said Janet Brooks, child advocacy manager at Primary Children's Medical Center.
As part of this safety campaign, across the state, you can get your child car seats checked and professionally installed for free throughout the week. Many locations will also host safety fairs. [Click here to find the date and times for the car seat checks and safety fairs near you]
E-mail: dwimmer@ksl.com
