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Welcome to the Rainbow Injury Prevention Center

soccerballUnintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 35, and among the leading causes of injury or death nationally among all age groups.

University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has strengthened its commitment to injury prevention across Northeast Ohio by forming the Rainbow Injury Prevention Center. The Center, created in response to many requests for materials and technical assistance from private and public sectors, is designed to share creative ideas, resources and information with all members of the Greater Cleveland community. The Center’s resources include a lending library of health and safety information and access to specialists in a wide variety of injury prevention areas.

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Keep your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 (not 1)

New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car safety seat up to their  second birthday. Following are some safety tips for car seat use:

  • All infants should ride rear-facing in either an infant car seat or convertible seat.
  • If an infant car seat is used, the infant should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as suggested by the car seat manufacturer.
  • Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.
  • To see if your car seat is installed properly call the Rainbow Car Seat Inspection Station at 216-844-2277.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009