Call 9-1-1 in any serious medical problem or in a situation that puts you, your loved ones or your property in danger and is more than you can handle on your own.

Call 9-1-1 if a baby:
• Is unconscious or losing consciousness
• Has trouble breathing
• Is bleeding
• Is injured; appears in pain
• Is having a seizure
• Has a possible broken bone or a dislocated shoulder
• Has been burned
• Has any warning sign the doctor has told you requires immediate care
• Has swallowed, inhaled or touched a poison

Immediately call 9-1-1 and Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, if you suspect a child has swallowed or inhaled a poison.

Call 9-1-1 for the following situations:
• Fire or explosion
• Crime in progress
• Domestic violence
• Downed electric wires
• Presence of smoke or unusual gas
• Floods
• Car crash

For more information visit Baby Everywhere.

Certain steps must be taken to handle an auto accident, especially with baby on board.

• Don't panic.
• Stop as soon as it is safe to do so, even if you have been only indirectly involved.
• Turn off your car, but leave the key in the ignition.
• Check that the parking brake is on.
• Call 9-1-1 from your car or ask someone nearby to call to report that there has been an accident and you have a baby in your car.
• Call a family member or friend to pick you and your baby up. It's best to call for help to drive you home, especially if you are upset or your car is disabled.
• Try to find a witness (not someone traveling in your car) who is willing to make a statement about the incident to your insurance company. Record their name and address.
• If a passenger has been driving in your car, have the person get the following information while you stay with your baby:
• Before the cars are moved, make a sketch including position of the cars and their relation to the other cars involved.
• Whether any car has crossed the central dividing line.
• Note any skid marks and their estimated length.
• Record damage to your car and, if possible, the condition of other cars (lights working, condition of tires, etc.).

For more information, visit Baby Everywhere.

Choking is the most common cause of unintentional death in children under age one. The danger remains significant until age five.

Remember, as long the baby can breathe, "speak," make sounds or is coughing, the baby is getting air into his lungs. The baby might be able to "fix" the problem independently.

If the baby is not making any sounds, appears in distress or is turning blue (for light-skinned babies) or gray (for dark-skinned babies), this situation is serious and you must take immediate action to clear the airway.

If the baby cannot cough, cry or breathe immediately, call 9-1-1.

Sometimes newborns cough and spit up breast milk or formula during feedings. If this happens:

• Stop feeding.
• Lean the baby forward.
• Gently pat the baby's back.
• Let the baby recover before continuing the feeding.
• Hold the baby instead of propping the bottle.
• Check that the bottle's nipple opening is not too large.

When introducing solid foods, choking is more prevalent. Be sure to:

• Cut food into thin slices or bite-size pieces.
• Cut meat and chicken across the grain into small slices, rather than chunks.
• Avoid choking hazards such as hard candy, hot dogs, raisins and other dried fruit, raw apples, unripe pears, raw carrots, uncooked peas, cubed raw vegetables, celery, white bread, whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, marshmallows, corn kernels, cherries, and chunky peanut butter.
• Encourage your child to chew and swallow food before talking or laughing.
• Don't let your child eat while playing or running.
• Keep trash out of a child's reach -- eggshells, caps and pop tops can be choking hazards.

Keep these items away from small children:

• Balloons -- deflated and broken pieces
• Baby powder -- powder can be inhaled and cause distress
• Buttons
• Coins
• Nuts -- pediatricians recommend that children should not be given nuts until age seven or older, when they have mastered chewing.
• Plastic bags

CPR courses are offered by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross and given by independent instructors throughout communities.

For more information, visit Baby Everywhere.

Follow the instructions included with your safety seat and ask for help installing the seat in your car. Visit your local police department or children's hospital for installation guidance.

Infant seats are made for babies from birth through one year old, or until the baby weighs at least 20-pounds. The seat should be installed in a rear-facing position in the back seat of the car.

As the child grows, convertible car seats can be used, but should remain in a rear-facing position as long as seat weight limits allow.

Booster seats are used for children who weigh 40-pounds and about 4-years old.

A seat belt alone can't protect a child adequately during a crash. Children should use a booster seat while riding in a car until they weigh about 80-pounds or are 4-feet, 9-inches tall and are at least 8 years old.

After graduating beyond booster seats, safety belts should always be worn. To "fit" a safety belt properly, the lap belt should fit snugly and across the upper thighs. The shoulder strap should cross over the shoulder and across the chest. Never allow the child to ride without the shoulder strap in place.

For more information, visit Baby Everywhere.

Cleaning Products

Ammonia Bleach Cleaning agents Polishing and bleaching products Detergents Metal polishes Dry-cleaning fluid Furniture polishes & wax Floors Shoes Paints & paint removers Varnishes Kerosene

Gasoline Lighter fluids Shampoo Hair coloring Roach powders Ant and rat poisons Insecticides and pesticides Room deodorizers Scouring powder Disinfectants Toilet-bowl cleaners Nail polish remover Plant foods

Other harmful products, if a child swallows enough of it, include:

Play-dough Bubble bath Fish bowl agents After-shave lotion Cosmetics Candles

Soap Deodorants Shaving cream Tooth paste Most house plants

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless and odorless poisonous gas often referred to as the silent killer. It is produced when fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, propane and kerosene don’t get enough air to burn up completely. Damaged or blocked venting inside heating systems, as well as inadequate air flow can allow CO to build up inside the home.

The symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu - nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion and drowsiness. However, there is no fever.

If the symptoms appear, everyone in the house, including pets, should go outside for fresh air. Call 911 or the local fire department for immediate help.

To prevent CO poisoning, maintaining fuel burning appliances, equipment and venting systems is key. Hire a heating technician to inspect and change filters in your natural gas, propane and oil furnace.

Install certified CO detectors, similar to smoke detectors, to warn you of the presence and rising levels of carbon monoxide. Smoke alarms do not detect CO, so you need to install both types on every level of your home in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Units that combine the function of both CO and smoke alarms into one are available. Once installed, remember to test your alarms once a month by pushing the test button on the unit. Batteries should be replaced each year.

For more information, visit Baby Everywhere.

Most experts agree that the dangers of co-sleeping outweigh the benefits. An adult could roll onto the infant and suffocate him. The infant is also at risk for rolling off of the bed or being trapped in the headboard, foot board or between the bed and wall.

First Candle, an organization dedication to the support of SIDS families, education and research, makes these recommendations:

• For at least the first six months, your baby's crib or other separate sleep surface should be placed in your room, near where you sleep. Research shows that being in close proximity to your baby during sleep can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS.
• The safest sleep area is a crib that meets current safety standards! The mattress should be firm and fit snuggly in the crib. For parents looking for safe alternatives to a crib for their sleeping baby, such as a bassinet, cradle or co-sleeper, visit www.cpsc.gov or www.jpma.org for crib safety standards.
• Adult beds, sofas and chairs are not safe for sleeping babies and can greatly increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths. Bring baby into your bed to feed and bond, but when its time for sleep, place your baby alongside your bed in his or her own separate, safe sleep area.
• Never put your baby to sleep on top of any soft surface! This includes adult beds, waterbeds, comforters, sheepskins, pillows or cushions.

A baby is safest sleeping on his back, alone in a crib, free of pillows, stuffed toys, heavy blankets, foam wedges, and even bumpers. Be careful not to obstruct the baby's breathing or introduce items that could cause suffocation.

First Candle, an organization dedication to the support of SIDS families, education and research, makes these recommendations:

• Back is best! Placing your baby on his or her back is the only sleep position recommended for babies. Side and stomach positions are not safe alternatives.
• For at least the first six months, your baby's crib or other separate sleep surface should be placed in your room, near where you sleep. Research shows that being in close proximity to your baby during sleep can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS.
• The safest sleep area is a crib that meets current safety standards! The mattress should be firm and fit snuggly in the crib. For parents looking for safe alternatives to a crib for their sleeping baby, such as a bassinet, cradle or co-sleeper, visit www.cpsc.gov or www.jpma.org for crib safety standards.
• Adult beds, sofas and chairs are not safe for sleeping babies and can greatly increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths. Bring baby into your bed to feed and bond, but when its time for sleep, place your baby alongside your bed in his or her own separate, safe sleep area.
• Be wary of soft bedding and blankets! Anything loose, soft or fluffy in your baby's sleep area can be dangerous. Take care to remove pillows, blankets, sheepskins, bumpers, stuffed toys and other soft objects from your baby's sleep area when placing them down for nap and nighttime sleeps.
• Keep your baby warm and safe during sleep! Loose blankets in your baby's sleep area can be dangerous. Consider using a wearable blanket or other type sleeper to keep your baby warm and safe.
• Never put your baby to sleep on top of any soft surface! This includes adult beds, waterbeds, comforters, sheepskins, pillows or cushions.
• Pacifiers can further reduce the risk of SIDS. Experts recommend giving your baby a pacifier every time you place them down to sleep. By following the First Candle Guidelines for Pacifier Use, parents and caregivers can avoid concerns about breastfeeding and long-term dental problems.
• Take care not to overheat your baby with too much clothing or too warm of room! Overheating is a leading risk factor for SIDS. Layer clothing as needed (no blankets!) and keep room temperature at a level that would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.

Educate everyone that cares for your baby about these safe sleep tips!

To reach First Candle crisis counselors 24-hours a day, call (800) 221-7437. Operators answer questions in Spanish after 5 PM.