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Health and Safety

Children need involved fathers in every aspect of their lives, including health and safety. From knowing how to properly handle a cut or scrape, to making sure that a child attends regular doctor check-ups and receives mandated vaccinations, involved fathers can make a significant, positive difference.

Responsible Fatherhood programs can benefit from being informed and prepared regarding the connection between father involvement and child health and safety. Current research, statistics, and program advice are available through this section of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC).

Information Resources from the Online Library on: Health and Safety.

There are many situations where a father's involvement in their child's health and safety is important. Here are some beginning tips to use as a father, or to incorporate into a Responsible Fatherhood program.

Topics on this Page:

Crying

  1. Babies learn to trust you when you help them stop crying. A child cries when they need something, and will learn to trust you when you respond to meet his or her needs.

  2. Try offering a pacifier. If your child is full of milk or formula offering a bottle can make your baby's tummy hurt. Offering a pacifier can satisfy the sucking reflex.

  3. If you child is older, but still a toddler, try moving your child around. Try a swing, a bouncy seat, or go for a walk in the stroller or a ride in the car seat.

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Burns: Home Treatment

  1. Run cool water over the burned area for at least 15 minutes. Skin Damage can continue even after you remove the cause of the burn. Apply cool water to stop the damage. You can also use a bowl of cool water, rather then running water.

  2. If the burn blisters, cover it with a non-stick gauze type dressing.

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Treating Minor Cuts and Scrapes

  1. Gently clean a minor cut or scrape with soap and water. Don't use iodine, Betadine® or mercurochrome because they destroy skin and cause more harm than good.

  2. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover the cut or scrape with a non-stick bandage.

  3. If bleeding is slow and steady, and it slows with direct pressure, it's probably minor. BUT if the blood is pulsing (coming in spurts) from a cut or scrape, it's probably coming from and artery. This type of wound needs medical attention right away.

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Poisoning

You can reach poison control, no matter where you are! Call 1-800-222-1222 to connect you to the nearest poison control. Keep this number in your wallet and near the phone.

If you think your child is poisoned:

  1. Take the substance you think poisoned your child away from him or her.

  2. Insure that your child is breathing and that his or her airway is clear.

  3. Make sure that you have the container that had the substance to let poison control know the substance you think poisoned your child.

  4. Call poison control.

  5. Do what poison control tells you to do. If they tell you to go to the emergency room, take the container with you.

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Other Relevant Resources

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , list of health topics related for infants and children.

  • The Pocket Guide to Good Health For Children - This guide was developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AHRQ is the lead Federal agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential services.

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau includes reports and links to other sites dealing with oral health, women's heath, and a health database.

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