Steps

Rationale/Points of Emphasis

1 Clear floors of fluid and other objects.

Decreases the risk for falls.

2 Confirm that showers and tubs have nonskid surfaces.

Provides traction to decrease the risk for falls.

3 Ensure that electrical equipment is maintained in good working order with no broken plugs or exposed wires. All electrical outlets should have child safety covers.

Prevents injury from electrical shock.

4 Follow facility policy for use of personal electronic devices (cell phone, radio, hairdryer, etc.) and monitor child’s safety during use.

Use of personal electronic devices may produce a safety hazard, for example: excessive noise levels can damage hearing and can be disturbing to other patients; cords from headphones may present a strangulation hazard.

5 Ensure that patient’s care instruments, supplies, and solutions are kept out of reach of the child and on shelves where ambulatory children and child visitors cannot access them.

Children may mistake solutions for food or candy. Prevents accidental injury.

6 Do not store medications in the child’s room.

Children may mistake medications for food or candy and may ingest them.

Steps

Rationale/Points of Emphasis

1 Ensure that the catches on the crib are in good working condition. Place the wheel of crib or bed in a locked position.

Latches in good working order prevent side rails from falling down when child leans on them or pulls up from a sitting to standing position using the rail. Wheels locked in place prevent rolling of the bed.

2 Keep crib and bedside rails up when the child is in the bed.

Prevents falls from the crib or bed.

3 Use bumper pads as necessary around cribs of small infants and children who are at risk for injury if they hit the side rails of the crib or bed. Bumper pads may also be used in beds for children with a history of seizures and for the agitated child (e.g., posthead injury).

Prevents the child from getting caught between the mattress and the crib or bed side and from hitting a part of his or her body on the rails. Prevents injury if the child has a seizure while in bed. Bumper pads should not be used with children who can stand on their own because they can then stand on the pad and potentially climb out of the crib.

Bumper pads should not be used at home. These products may actually place the child at greater risk for suffocation and death.

4 Crib side rails must be less than 23/8 inches apart.

Prevents the child from getting the head caught between the rails.

5 Add top enclosure to the crib as needed.

Prevents the child from crawling out over top of side rails.

6 “Hi-lo” beds should remain in the low position.

Allows toilet-trained children to easily and safely climb out of bed to use bathroom.