Safety Considerations When Caring for Infants, Children, and Adolescents

Area of Concern	Safety Interventions
Security	Be alert to all visitors; restrict prn Monitor/report suspicious visitors Assess high-risk children (e.g., custody disputes) Identify person to whom child is discharged All staff to wear photo ID, especially when transporting child Transport one child at a time; never leave child unattended during transport Do not allow visitors to borrow scrubs or lab coat Infants placed near nurses station, in direct line of vision Access to pediatrics unit limited; doors alarmed to indicate when someone enters or leaves the unit
Electrical equipment (e.g., apnea monitor, ECG monitor, respirator)	Maintain all equipment in good working order Remove leads when not attached to monitor Unplug power cord when not connected to equipment Keep equipment away from moisture (e.g., puddle of water, tub) Do not turn off alarm for any reason Always check the child when an alarm sounds; never ignore the alarm Teach other children not to touch or play with the equipment Home care: CPR guidelines posted near bed Emergency numbers posted near phone Notify electric company, get on priority service list in case of power outage Use intercom or monitoring system
Environment	Keep unused electrical outlets covered with child-proof caps Secure screens on all windows Strap infant securely into infant seat, high chair, stroller Discourage use of walkers Crib rails up at all times when infant or young child is alone When a crib rail is down, keep one hand on the infant or young child at all times Keep plants or flowers out of the reach of infants or young children No small or sharp objects within reach of infants or young children No small or removable parts to toys of infants or young children Keep all medications out of the reach of infants or young children Never leave an infant or young child alone in a bath or near water

Area of Concern

Safety Interventions

Security

Be alert to all visitors; restrict prn
Monitor/report suspicious visitors
Assess high-risk children (e.g., custody disputes)
Identify person to whom child is discharged
All staff to wear photo ID, especially when transporting child
Transport one child at a time; never leave child unattended during transport
Do not allow visitors to borrow scrubs or lab coat
Infants placed near nurses station, in direct line of vision
Access to pediatrics unit limited; doors alarmed to indicate when someone enters
or leaves the unit

Electrical equipment (e.g., apnea monitor,
ECG monitor, respirator)

Maintain all equipment in good working order
Remove leads when not attached to monitor
Unplug power cord when not connected to equipment
Keep equipment away from moisture (e.g., puddle of water, tub)
Do not turn off alarm for any reason
Always check the child when an alarm sounds; never ignore the alarm
Teach other children not to touch or play with the equipment

Home care:

CPR guidelines posted near bed
Emergency numbers posted near phone
Notify electric company, get on priority service list in case of power outage
Use intercom or monitoring system

Environment

Keep unused electrical outlets covered with child-proof caps
Secure screens on all windows
Strap infant securely into infant seat, high chair, stroller
Discourage use of walkers
Crib rails up at all times when infant or young child is alone
When a crib rail is down, keep one hand on the infant or young child at all times
Keep plants or flowers out of the reach of infants or young children
No small or sharp objects within reach of infants or young children
No small or removable parts to toys of infants or young children
Keep all medications out of the reach of infants or young children
Never leave an infant or young child alone in a bath or near water

Infection Control When Caring for Infants, Children, and Adolescents

Type	Definition	Equipment	Clinical Applications
Standard precautions	Reduce the risk of transmission of infection from all recognized and unrecognized sources of infection (formerly termed uni- versal precautions)	Gloves Protective eyewear Gown/apron Mask	Blood Body fluids Secretions Excretions Any break in skin or mucous membranes
Airborne precautions	Reduce the risk of airborne transmission of infectious agents	Special air handling systems Ventilation systems: HEPA filter masks, N95 Respirator	Measles Varicella Tuberculosis
Droplet precautions	Reduce the risk of airborne transmission of infectious agents transmitted by large par- ticle droplets	Surgical mask	Haemophilus influenzae type B Pertussis Streptococcal pharyngitis Scarlet fever
Contact precautions	Reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents by direct patient contact or indirect contact with contaminated items in the patient s environment	Gloves Gown	Enteric infections Skin/wound infections Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Herpes simplex Impetigo Viral hemorrhagic conjunctivitis