Child Safe: A Practical Guide for Preventing Childhood Injuries (Paperback)

~ Mark A. Brandenburg M.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Though it's clearly written and intelligently put together, Child Safe is a difficult book to read--because of it's very gruesome thoroughness. Sections titled "The Dangers of Bunk Beds," "Carbon Monoxide: What Is It?," and "Lead Dust," not to mention "Choking," "Drowning," and "Falls" may make a person want to slam the book shut and run for the hills with child in tow. But it's this attentiveness to every horrific possibility that makes Child Safe such a useful book. Mark A. Brandenburg, an emergency physician, has put together a guide for parents who are serious about danger-proofing their little one's universe. New parents are forever learning of surprising threats to their child's safety; before you had kids, who knew balloons were such a problem? For most folks, this knowledge comes in dribs and drabs. A friend will explain that grapes are a choking hazard; a magazine article will mention that you might not want to let your daughter wear a necklace while she's on the playground. Brandenburg's book gathers all that information into one easy-to-use volume. The first section describes universal dangers, the second organizes potential threats by age group. Along the way, the doctor throws in plenty of scarifying tales from the ER. This may not be an easy book for parents to read, but it's probably a necessary one. --Claire Dederer

Product Description

Everyone who has children knows just how easily they can get hurt. Each year, for example, approximately 9,000 infants suffer injuries related to their high chairs. Thousands more are poisoned by common household substances. In total, more than 25 million children are injured annually, and more than 12,000 kids under the age of 14 succumb to their injuries. What makes these incidents even more tragic is that they can be prevented--if only parents knew how.

Well, now they will. Written by an emergency physician, Child Safe is a practical parenting book that will help keep babies and young children out of trouble. It will help parents recognize the dangers to kids and provide concrete ways of preventing specific injuries.

Child Safe is the most complete, organized, and parent-friendly child-safety book ever written for the general public. It addresses the most pressing safety issues from birth to age 14, issues that change dramatically as a child grows up. This invaluable guide for parents, grandparents, teachers, childcare workers, and baby-sitters has the information to prevent millions of childhood injuries. Dr. Mark Brandenburg, with his years of experience, shows how to keep your "child safe."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (March 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 060980412X
• ISBN-13: 978-0609804124
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,579,876 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BabyLounge.com gives 5 pacifiers to Child Safe, May 1, 2000

By	Vicky Collins (Millburn, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

If you're concerned about Child Safety (as you should be), but you're not exactly sure how to prevent your child from getting injured, then you've come to the right place.

Part I of this book is Non-Age Related Injuries where you will learn about the various dangers that are present in everyday life, and what you can do to prevent your child from getting injured. Everything from the safest automobiles to how to prevent home fires is covered.

Part II is Age-Related Injuries, where the chapters are conveniently broken down into: Infants (0-12 Months), Toddlers and Preschoolers (1-5 Years), and School-Age Children (6-13 Years). This section gives specific information on the types of dangers that are relevant for each of the aforementioned age ranges. The author highlights the most common ways that infants, toddlers, and preschoolers get hurt, and what you can do to prevent these injuries.

You may be surprised to learn how many potential dangers are lurking in your house, car, garage, playground, etc. Did you know that at least one child drowns in a bucket of water each week? Or that swallowing furniture polish can be deadly? The good news is that this book will help you to eliminate most of the dangers and make it less likely that your child will get hurt.

Child Safe is an excellent book and an invaluable guide for all parents, grandparents, and day-care providers. I highly recommend it!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Safety from A to Z, March 29, 2000

By	Safety Center (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews

I own a Safety products store in Tulsa and I am constantly looking for information and products on safety for the whole family, with an emphasis on child safety. I have both child safety books and videos in my store. I was anxious to read the new book "Child Safe" because it is written by an emergency physician and because I am a member of the Safe Kids Coalition in Tulsa. I feel it is important that I be abreast of the latest information on child safety so that I can be a resource to my customers as well as providing quality products. I also had to make the decision as to whether I wanted to sell this book in my store. I especially like Child Safe because of the easy to follow format based on the stages of child growth. It has convenient cross references to different types of injuries related to specific age groups. The Author states important facts such as how preventable many injuries are, and proceeds to detail how these injuries can be prevented. I was pleased that the Author emphasized the importance of parental supervision. I hear so many stories about how a child was left alone for a brief period and sustained some type of injury. I agree with the Author that a child must be supervised at all times due to the ease with which children sustain injuries from unsuspecting situations. Another important issue that is discussed in the book is gun safety. This issue is getting so much attention in the media that every parent, whether they own a gun or not, must be conscious of the dangers that exist from guns and teach their children to be aware of the dangers that guns present. Another area covered in the book is child abuse. Parents must be educated and prepared to respond to situations that point to this very serious problem. Overall, I feel this book is excellent and should be in every home where a child lives or would visit. The book is just as important in a home as a fire extinguisher or smoke alarm. Essential reading for all parents who want a safe world for their children. I would be happy to speak to anyone about this book and its relevance to contemporary safety issues that are important to all parents.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Work!, April 9, 2000

By	Laura (New York) - See all my reviews

Dr. Brandenburg identifies in his book many potential hazards to the health and safety of children. I am grateful to him for writing this book. I have investigated abuse and neglect allegations concerning children for nearly ten years. There have been many cases in which I arrived at a hospital or home to discuss with a child's parent(s) or caretaker the cause of serious injuries or death to their child. Many children sustain injuries which are the result of abuse or neglect. Other cases, however, are the result of an accident which could have been prevented had the parent/caretaker been aware of a potential hazard to the child. The most difficult cases to deal with are those in which a child has been seriously injured or killed because of something that could have been avoided. Dr. Brandenburg presents to us all the opportunity to reflect and improve the manner in which we care for children. Dr. Brandenburg's book is a MUST READ for not only parents, but for anyone who works closely with children including daycare staff, teachers, social workers, etc.