10 Ways to Keep Your Family Safe from Accidental Injury

There is no better way to show your loved ones that you care than to help keep them safe and healthy. Don't overlook some of the easiest ways to keep your family safe.

1. Buckle up. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 33, according to the NSC. About every 12-1/2 minutes, someone in the United States is killed because of an auto accident. Every 14 seconds, someone suffers a disabling injury. Seat belts save the lives of thousands of people every year. More: Car Accident Statistics,

2. Don't drink and drive. Approximately 40 percent of auto accident deaths involve drinking. About 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic accident at some point in their lives, the NSC says. More: Car Accident Law

3. Use child safety seats. Be sure to install the seat properly—close to 80 percent are not installed correctly. The safest place for a child safety seat is in the middle of the back seat. For more information on how to install car seats, visit www.carseat.org. More: Injuries To Children & Minors

4. Prevent falls. More than 50 percent of all falls occur in the home. The CDC reports that almost 14,000 people age 65 and older die each year of falls. More: Serious Injury Accidents

5. Wear a helmet. Always use a helmet when biking or when playing sports, such as skiing, football, hockey or baseball. A head injury often results in irreversible damage to the brain. Wearing a helmet can cut the risk for head injury by 85 percent. More: Traumatic Brain Injury

6. Prevent poisoning. Poisoning is a leading cause of death in the home, the NSC says. The main substances that cause accidental death are medicines, poisonous houseplants, cleaning products, and pesticides. Move your cleaning products to cabinets with safety latches. Keep your local poison control center phone number close to the phone. More: Injuries To Children & Minors

7. Watch those windows. Screens are designed to keep insects out, not children in. If you install guards that keep children from opening windows more than a few inches, make sure that the guards can be released easily in case of fire. More: Injuries To Children & Minors

8. Be watchful near water. More than 4,000 people drown every year, and children up to age 4 are the most susceptible. Never leave your child alone at a pool or beach or in a bathtub. More: Boating & Personal Watercraft Accidents

9. Keep children from choking. Suffocation is the leading cause of death in the home for children ages 4 and younger. Always put babies to sleep on their backs on a firm mattress, not on a soft cushion, pillow or blanket. Make sure to keep toys with long cords and window-shade pull cords away from small children. More: Injuries To Children & Minors

10. Be prepared for fire. Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers can help prevent injury and death if a fire breaks out in your home. Test smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries twice a year. More: Serious Injury Accidents