Hazardous Materials Information for Families
Resources to be shared with families to reduce the access of young children to hazardous materials.
Safe Environments at Home
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide poisoning associated with certain consumer products (such as generators furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and fireplaces) causes the accidental deaths of more than 150 people in the United States every year. This web page from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has safety tips for protecting your home from carbon monoxide.
Smoke-Free Environments Suite
This series of three videos from Head Start’s Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) focuses on the importance of having a smoke-free home and car for children and their families. The videos also discuss how to use the Head Start Smoking Survey and offer instructions on how to enroll for free quitting resources.
Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants
This web page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health contains information on common poisonous plants and what to do if you are exposed.
Even Plants Can Be Poisonous
Some common household plants can be toxic to children. This ECLKC web page contains a list of poisonous plants that should not be within a child's reach.
Protect Your Family from Sources of Lead
This web page from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency contains information on sources of lead that may be found in a child's environment.
About Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. Breathing in high levels of radon can put you at risk of lung cancer. This web page from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides information on sources of radon and how to test your home.
Poison Prevention Packaging Act Brochure
The CPSC created this brochure with information on preventing child poisonings from household chemicals and medications.
Tips for Keeping Infants and Toddlers Safe: A Developmental Guide for Home Visitors – Toddlers
This ECLKC web page shares best practices for keeping infants and toddlers safe at home. It presents information on proper safety precautions that families can implement for their toddlers' general safety and while toileting and diapering, eating, sleeping, and playing.
Acute Marijuana Intoxication
This web page from Colorado Children’s Hospital describes marijuana and its uses and effects; marijuana intoxication in children and teens, including causes and symptoms, tests and diagnosis, and treatment; and the long-term effects of marijuana on children.
Children and Gun Safety: What to Know and Do
This article from Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing shares information about firearm injury and death among children and youth in the United States, emphasizes the importance of securely storing guns away from children, and shares tips to help parents keep their children safe.
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units
The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units are a national network of experts in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of health issues that arise from environmental exposures from preconception to adolescence.
Hand Hygiene
Handwashing: A Family Activity
Handwashing is an effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep family members safe from illness or infection. This CDC web page has information on teaching children how and when to wash their hands.
Pest Control
Dos and Don'ts of Pest Control
This ECLKC web page provides information on methods for pest control that are safe around children.
Play it Safe: Reduce Your Child's Chances of Pesticide Poisoning
This EPA resource has information and tips on how to reduce a child's chances of pesticide poisoning.
Cleaning Products
Keep Your Family Safe from Household Chemicals
This flier from the Federal Emergency Management Agency features tips for families on how to use and store household cleaning supplies and chemicals.
Laundry Room and Detergent Safety
Laundry detergents and other laundry products are poisonous and must be stored properly away from children. This web page from HealthyChildren.org includes tips for safely storing laundry products and childproofing in-home laundry facilities.
Clean Away COVID
The Association of State Public Health Nutritionists recently published a website with accessible, short videos on disinfecting homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
Toy Safety
Toy Safety Tips
This one-pager from Safe Kids Worldwide has information on how to keep kids safe during playtime.
Safety and Injury Prevention: Toy Safety
This web page from Seattle Children's Hospital provides information on toy safety. At the bottom of the page, there are handouts with information on toy safety specific to the child's age.
Child Care Safety
This Children's Safety Network web page contains links to resources such as webinars, infographics, and articles on toy safety.
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
This website contains information on product safety for infants and children, including toy safety, car seat safety, and disinfecting practices
How to Buy Safe Toys
This HealthyChildren.org web page presents 10 tips for selecting safe, developmentally appropriate toys for your child.
How High-Powered Magnetic Toys Can Harm Children
High-powered magnetic toys, which often comprise sets of 100 or more small magnetic balls or cubes, can be dangerous or life-threatening if ingested by children. This web page from HealthyChildren.org describes how these popular toys can present a risk to children and offers tips to help parents keep their children safe.
How Small Batteries Can Become Dangerous to Children
Button batteries and lithium coin batteries are small, round batteries that may be found in remote controls and other household items. These batteries can cause injury when stuck in a child's nose or ear, and possibly death when swallowed. This web page from HealthyChildren.org discusses how these batteries can present a risk to children and what to do in case of an emergency.
Choking Prevention
This HealthyChildren.org web page has information on how common household items, including small toy parts, can pose a serious choking hazard to children.
Art and Craft Safety Guide
This comprehensive guide to art and craft safety from CPSC includes information on paints, glues, and other potential hazards related to common art supplies.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recalls
This feature on the CPSC website provides a searchable database for all product recalls. Families and providers may register toys and other items to receive emails when products are recalled.
Additional Resource
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This 1-minute video from Safe Kids Worldwide has an important message on injury prevention and keeping children safe.
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