Health library

Child safety: True or false?

It's common for kids to skin their knees, take tumbles and have mishaps. It's all a part of childhood. Even so, a few precautions can help the children in our lives avoid more serious injuries. Take this quiz to learn about a few of those safeguards.

True or false: Kids under 10 need to cross the street with an adult.

True. Every child is different. But developmentally, most kids can't judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until they've reached the double digits.

True or false: The most dangerous part of the school bus ride isn't actually the time kids spend on the bus.

True. Getting on and off the bus accounts for about three times as many school-bus-related deaths as the ride itself does. If kids need to cross the street after exiting the bus, they should take five giant steps in front of the bus and make eye contact with the bus driver. And they should only cross the street when the driver signals it's safe.

True or false: What kids wear to the playground doesn't matter—as long as they're comfortable.

False. Some clothing isn't safe to wear at a playground. That includes necklaces, scarves, and clothes with drawstrings. Anything that can get caught on playground equipment poses a strangling hazard.

True or false: It's safer for kids to ride their bikes facing traffic.

False. Cyclists should always ride with the flow of traffic—kids too. Riding against traffic can confuse or surprise drivers. Almost 1 out of every 4 bicycle-car collisions results from bicyclists riding against traffic.

True or false: In 2 out of 3 emergency room visits for medicine poisoning, the medicine was left within reach of a child.

True. Kids get into medication in all sorts of places, like in purses and nightstands. So be sure to place purses and bags out of reach of kids, if they have any meds in them. And never leave medicine on a nightstand or dresser.

Discover other hidden hazards that might be lurking inside and outside your home—and learn how to make your home as safe as possible—in our Safety topic center.

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