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Injury Prevention Program

The Injury Prevention Program works to prevent unintentional injuries among people of all ages and abilities with particular emphasis on the underserved residents of Boston. Our program focuses on reducing injury risks through education, resources, and legislation.

We offer workshops on behavioral strategies and improve access to prevention resources. Our program aims to keep our neighborhoods safe and injury-free.

General home safety tips and resources

General home safety tips and resources
Carbon Monoxide (CO) safety

Learn tips to keep your home and child safe from carbon monoxide and burns.

  • Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas
  • Check your CO alarm every month and replace the alarm if it is older than 10 years, replacing the batteries at least once a year
  • Never use your oven or stove to heat your home
  • Never leave your car running inside of an enclosed garage
  • Learn more about carbon monoxide safety here
Additional resources
  • Use safety gates at the top or bottom of stairs if possible
  • Secure TVs and furniture to the wall using mounts or anchors to prevent tip-overs
  • Keep furniture and anything a child can climb on away from windows
  • Install window guards inside of your home to prevent window falls

Learn more about our Window Fall Prevention program.

Tips
  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas
  • Check your smoke alarm every month and replace the alarm if it is older than 10 years, replacing the batteries at least once a year
  • Keep lighters, matches, and candles locked and away from children 
  • Keep hot foods and liquids out of children’s reach. Cook with pots and pans on back burners and turn pot handles to the back of the stove
  • Learn more about fire safety
More resources

NFPA Smoke Alarms Save Lives

NFPA Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Injury prevention

Learn how to prevent injuries like falls in your home.

  • Keep medicine, vitamins, cosmetics, and chemicals stored up and locked away from children
  • Use cabinet locks to keep children out of areas with harmful items inside
  • Read medication and product labels to learn what may be dangerous to children
  • Dispose of unused or expired medication at a disposal location. Find a disposal location near you here
Additional resources
  • Poison Prevention Infographic

Poison Prevention Infographic

  • Safe Kids Medication Infographic

Safe Kids Medication Infographic

  • Remember the sleep safety ABC’s when putting your child to sleep: 
    • Alone. Your child should sleep alone in its crib, without pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals
    • Back. Your child should sleep flat on their back on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet
    • Crib. Your child should only be sleeping inside of a crib or pack-n-play and shouldn’t sleep on a chair, couch or other furniture. Co-sleepers can also be dangerous and are not recommended
  • Learn more about sleep safety
  • Give your child toys appropriate for their age, interest, and ability
  • Be aware of small parts, magnets, and other choking or poisoning hazards on your child’s toys
  • Learn more about toy safety
Additional resources

Toys and Gifts Safety Tips

  • Supervise children around water
  • Never leave a child alone in a tub
  • Close toilet lids, bathroom doors and laundry room doors
  • Use child locks on doors and toilets in your home
  • Teach children how to swim. Enroll children in swim lessons if possible
  • Learn more about water safety
Additional resources

Water Safety Tips

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