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With people still talking about the Nationwide Super Bowl ad that brought dramatic attention to the number one killer of kids, preventable injuries, we’re releasing new research that reveals the scope of the problem in a place most parents assume is safe: the home. Every day, six children die from an injury in the home, and 10,000 go to the emergency department for the kinds of injuries that commonly happen in homes.

We talk a lot about safe storage and the importance of keeping medicine up and away, out of reach of children. And that’s important: In 67 percent of emergency room visits for medicine poisoning, the medicine was left within reach of a child, such as in a purse, on a counter or dresser or on the ground.

What is equally important, though, is safe dosing.

We have some exciting news to share. Safe Kids has entered into a new partnership with Nationwide. Our work together will focus on a national initiative to help families stay safe at home, including fire safety, water safety, and preventing poisoning and falls. This will provide Safe Kids with an opportunity to reach even more families with the safety information they need to keep kids safe and prevent injuries.

This is National Childhood Injury Prevention Week, which means it’s a great time to brush up on a few of the easiest things parents can do to keep their kids safe. When it comes to safety for your children, you already know the basics: buckle up, wear a helmet, learn to swim, look both ways. Here are some lesser-known – but just as important – tips to help keep your family safe.

My dad has always loved big shiny toys. Cars, grills, televisions and tools never fail to bring out his inner child. However, he has never cared much for big owner’s manuals. In fact, he can hardly be bothered to read the heating instructions on frozen dinners, much less read the small novels that come with most electronics today. 

It doesn’t take long being around children to realize that their curiosity (and imagination) is unparalleled. I was asked all these questions while babysitting my 3-year-old neighbor, Jonathan — yes, even the one about grilled cheese.  While their curiosity and innocence often enhances their cuteness, it also inevitably leads them into vulnerable and sometimes dangerous situations.