By Bruce H. Axelrod, M.D.

As millions of children head back to school, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is helping parents, teachers, and caregivers look for hidden hazards to help prevent injuries and deaths to children. The Commission's "Back to School Safety Checklist" offers tips on making schools, child care facilities and playgrounds safer.

Playgrounds

Check the surfaces around playground equipment. There should be a 12-inch depth of wood chips, mulch, sand or pea gravel, or there should be mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls. Each year, more than 200,000 children are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms for playground-associated injuries. Most of these injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment.

Drawstrings on Jackets and Sweatshirts

Remove drawstrings on hoods or around the neck. Cut drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets and sweatshirts to 3 inches. Since 1985, 22 children have died when drawstrings caught on school buses, playground equipment and other products.

Loops on Window Blind Cords

If the windows in your home, childcare facilities or schools have blinds, cut the loop on two-corded horizontal blinds, and attach separate tassels to prevent entanglement and strangulation in window blind cords. Vertical blinds, continuous loop systems and drapery cords use looped cords to function. Do not cut these loops. Instead, install a permanent tie-down device. To obtain free tassels and tie down devices call (800) 506-4636. About one child a month dies from strangulation with window covering cords.

Bike Helmets

Since a growing number of kids are riding their bikes to school, make sure they always wear their helmet. All bike helmets manufactured or imported for sale in the United States are required to meet the new federal safety standard set by CPSC. Each year, more than 200 children are killed in bicycle-related incidents, and about 60 percent of these deaths involve a head injury. Helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.

Soccer Goals

Anchor soccer goals into the ground to prevent them from tipping over and crushing a child. Since 1979, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of 24 deaths from soccer goal tip over.

Recalled Products

You and your kids can get up-to-date recall and product safety information by checking out the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site on your home or school computer. Sign up to get free recall notices by FAX, e-mail or regular mailing by calling Commission's hotline or writing to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.