November is Child Safety and Protection Month. There is no better time to raise awareness about some of the common hazards children face every day. This is also a great time for parents and caregivers to assess their current safety practices at home and help their children learn about hazards and how to stay safe.

Each year, more than nine million children are treated in the emergency room for unintentional injuries. More than 12,000 children from 0-19 die from accidental, and often preventable, injuries. Fortunately, there are things that parents and caregivers can do to reduce the risk of such an injury occurring. Below are some safety tips and resources.

Safety Tips and Resources for Child Safety and Protection Month

Whether you are at home, work, outdoors, or traveling, here are some safety tips that can help you prevent accidents and injuries:

• Keep cleaning supplies, medications, vitamins, supplements, and even toxic hobby supplies well out of reach of children.
• Make sure all prescription and over-the-counter medications have child-proof caps.
• Never store non-food substances in food containers. This can be confusing to small children.
• Keep the contact number for Poison Control located in a prominent area of your home. Program it in your cell phone in case of emergency.
• Make sure your child's crib or bed is away from windows and cords.
• If you have an infant, make sure they only sleep with a fitted mattress and sheet. Remove all blankets, bumpers, and toys during sleep.
• Make sure you are using the right car seat for your child. Not sure? The NHTSA has a convenient tool that helps you ensure you are using the best seat to keep your child safe.
• When riding a bicycle, scooter, skates, or skateboard, make sure your child is wearing an appropriate helmet.
• When playing outdoors, make sure your child doesn't have access to electrical wires or boxes, or outdoor outlets.
• Ensure that all bodies of water are secured and that children do not have access to them. This includes ponds, pools, fountains, birdbaths, barrels, or standing water.

These easy-to-follow tips will make sure your children stay safe and healthy. Remember, safety begins at home.