Determination of infant-safe homes in a community injury prevention program.
Prehospital Emergency Care · 2006-01-01 · Observational study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The home is the most common site of childhood injury. To address this problem, Orange County Emergency Management developed the novel "Welcome to the World" program to provide paramedic-delivered home safety inspections and interventions to improve early childhood safety. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of infant-safe homes and to examine differences in home infant safety based on the number of children in the home. METHODS: Paramedics visited households with newborns or expectant mothers for a home visit at their request. Each visit included a home safety inspection, correction of certain safety practices, one-on-one teaching of injury prevention topics, and distribution of educational materials and safety devices. A retrospective analysis of data recorded during these visits included criteria used in defining an infant-safe home, including 1) presence of a functioning smoke detector, 2) bathwater temperature measured < 120 degrees F, 3) correct crib slat spacing, and 4) presence of a car seat. RESULTS: Paramedics conducted 110 home visits, of which 57% were first-time parents. Only 33% (n = 10) of multiple-child homes and 38% (n = 14) of one-child homes were defined as infant safe by meeting all four criteria. CONCLUSIONS: An alarmingly low number of homes were infant safe (n = 24) and the number of children in the home did not seem to affect home safety. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of the "Welcome to the World" program.