You cannot protect your child from every danger he or she can possibly encounter outside the home. However, you can take reasonable precautions and teach your child basic safety rules. This general training can help prepare your child for a variety of situations he or she may face.

Prevent accidents by using safe equipment, teaching safety awareness, and closely supervising your child.

• Always use a car seat. Car accidents are the leading cause of death and injury in young children.⁴ Many injuries and deaths can be avoided by using proper child restraints. For every ride in an automobile, make sure your child is securely strapped into a properly installed car seat that meets all current safety standards. Because state regulations vary and may not include important factors to keep your child as safe as possible, make sure to follow basic guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Until your baby is at least 1 year of age and weighs at least 20lb, use an infant car seat that reclines and faces the rear. After that, use a forward-facing seat until your child weighs 40lb. Some infant seats can be converted into toddler seats. For pictures of car seats, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/AreYouUsing/images/UsingScr.pdf.
• Never leave your child alone in a car. Heat inside a car could cause long-lasting injury or death in just minutes. A young child's body temperature can go up 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult. Keeping the car windows down will not protect your child in hot or warm weather. Other injuries could also occur from a child getting stuck in the trunk or setting the car in motion.
• Help your child become "street smart." Teach your child the basic rules about the dangers of cars and streets.
• Teach proper behavior around animals. Teach your child how to interact with different types of pets and other animals that he or she may come across while outside your home.
• Begin teaching your young child swimming safety. Knowing proper behavior while in and around water can help prevent a drowning accident. If you have a swimming pool at home, take safety measures around the pool. If you live near irrigation canals, teach your child not to play in or near them.
• Keep your child safe in strollers and carts. Keep your child restrained, and watch him or her closely.
• Use insect repellents to prevent bites and stings. Also, take action to lower your child's chances of being stung by an insect by having your child wear socks, closed shoes, and clothes that fully cover his or her body when outdoors.