As soon as your child is old enough to understand, teach her to respond to emergencies. Children as young as three years old have been known to use the telephone to summon emergency help. Teach your child how to dial 911, if that service is available in your area (or, if not, how to dial 0 for operator) for emergency assistance, and have your child practice this skill. Use a toy telephone or simply hold the disconnect button down on your regular phone and practice with your child so that she becomes accustomed to the procedure. Also, make sure your child can recite her full name, address, and telephone number.

Take steps to minimize the danger of accidents and injuries occurring in your home and outside. For suggestions, see Home Safety.

From Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet Zand, N.D., L.Ac., Robert Rountree, MD, Rachel Walton, RN, ©1994. Published by Avery Publishing, New York. For personal use only; neither the digital nor printed copy may be copied or sold. Reproduced by permission.