Safety Tips for Baby Strollers

Keep Your Baby Safe with Stroller Safety Tips

Strollers have been used for decades due to the fact that they offer convenience to parents on the move. As with many products on the market that are designed for infants and toddlers, many safety alerts and red flags have been raised.

Because it is heart rending to hear of a baby and/or toddler subjected to strollers that may cause injury, and potential death, the following information has been compiled to aid parents in knowing and understanding what safety enhancements are most important when selecting baby strollers.

When purchasing a unit for your child and/or children, it is absolutely essential that you take the time to determine if the product is safe. Here, you will be provided with information regarding the dangers that are associated with these devices, as well as some basic safety features that are important to the health and life of your child.

Baby Stroller Use and its Dangers

There have been a number of stroller related injuries responded to in the years of 2004 to the year of 2007 by the 911 Response Team in just one community, according to Pediatric Emergency Care. The following statistics are indicated as a result of this particular study.

The study was conducted for approximately three and a half years. During this time, 241 different incidents occurred that were specific to those involving shopping carts and strollers. The amount of stroller related injuries came to a number of 121.

The ages of the children that were involved in the stroller related injuries averaged between 0 months and 6 months of age.

Falls constituted the largest number of injuries, resulting in a percentage of 47.5% of all the cases.

59% of the injuries coming from stroller related injuries were attributed to the head area.

At least 18% of the children monitored also sustained an injury directly related to the facial area.

At least 77% of the children evaluated were transported to the local emergency treatment center by the use of an ambulance.

While there were no deaths, it is estimated that a little over 8% of all the children involved were hospitalized for further treatment and evaluation of their injuries.

Based on the information obtained from this study, medical professionals determined that education should be an emphasis when it comes to parents who implement the use of baby strollers. It is believed that if parents are aware of the steps to keep their children safe in strollers, there will be less likelihood that injury and even death may occur while using this type of device.

Taking Measures for Stroller Safety

The following details some of the safety measures for stroller use. If you have purchased a stroller, or you are considering purchasing a stroller, it is important that you know and understand the basic safety measures that you can take in this situation. Below are some effective strategies that have been found to enhance the safe use of strollers.

1. There is a reduced opportunity for tipping and accidental falls, if you ensure that the stroller you purchase has a base that is relatively wide. Its a known fact that narrow strollers tend to have the most complications when it comes to leaning and tipping over.

2. There are many situations in which parents may be tempted to hang things on the stroller handles, such as purses and diaper bags. It is important to avoid the temptation to do this. By doing so, you are presenting the possibility of causing the stroller to tip over and result in injury.

3. It is absolutely imperative that you use the seatbelt that is attached to the stroller at all times. This will add security to the device for the child.

4. Each and every single time that you are using the stroller, it is important to ensure that you take the time to use the device that locks the stroller into place. It is equally important to use the wheel locking devices when the stroller is not in movement.

5. When using the device, you should never leave it unattended. It is when a child is left unattended that the most injuries occur.

6. Thoroughly check the stroller before and after each use to ensure that the parts are all secure - especially the seat area and the wheel area. If you find that any parts are loose, do not place your child in the unit prior to fixing these components; or purchase a new unit altogether.

7. Product recalls are issued on a regular basis due to safety issues, hence is is wise to always evaluate the product that you have to compare it to the product recalls. If you find that your stroller is listed, simply discard it or follow the appropriate instructions on the recall list.

Conclusion

It is imperative to ensure that you learn as much as you can regarding what can happen, and how to prevent these situations from occurring. If you do this, it is almost a guarantee that your child and/or children will remain safe as both parent and child enjoy the use of these convenient forms of transport.