Avoid accidents at the supermarket

The common necessity of grocery shopping could cause personal injury to your child, especially those under five years old. With grocery stores on almost every corner in Toledo, Ohio, and little spare time in parents’ busy schedules, children end up accompanying Mom or Dad during almost every trip to the supermarket. According to Consumer Reports online, shopping carts were the cause of over 19,500 visits to U.S. emergency rooms in 2005 alone. Falls from carts caused serious injuries such as concussions, fractures, and internal injuries. Shopping carts, since 2004, are required to come equipped with child straps that must be used for kids 6 months to 4 years, weighing up to 35 pounds. Warnings about the dangers of children falling out are also to be clearly posted on the child seat. Consumer Reports advise parents to obey all directions and weight limits posted on the carts and to never let your child ride inside or underneath the basket of the shopping cart. Always buckle them in and never leave a child unattended. If the cart you are using does not have a strap, report it to store management so they may remove that cart from their fleet. Discourage kids from grabbing at items on shelves, as the objects have the potential of falling on the child, creating a hazardous spill or causing the cart to tip over. Never put a baby carrier on top of the cart, only in the basket. If that does not leave enough room for groceries, Consumer Reports advises parents to use a soft frontal infant carrier, or leave the baby home with the other parent or baby-sitter. Make the chore of grocery shopping even less of a hassle by keeping your kids safe and accident free!