Page 76 - GreenBook

6. Blood Lead: Childhood lead poisoning is a common and preventable
pediatric health problem today. At each well child visit from age 6 months
through 6 years you will be asked to fill out a risk assessment sheet to
determine your child's risk of lead exposure. The frequency of testing
depends on the amount of risk. Please be sure to wash your child's
fingertips with soap and water prior to testing. If the blood lead level is
greater than 10 g/dL we will contact you for further evaluation.

VIII. SAFETY
Did you know that forty percent of all childhood deaths in the United States are a
result of an accident? Most of these deaths could have been prevented.

A. Automobile Safety:
Would you knowingly expose your child to a deadly illness? Most of us as
parents would go to any lengths to protect our child from death.

Automobile accidents are the single largest cause of death in children!
Therefore, we believe that infants and children in cars must be protected. This
does NOT mean riding in an adult's arms. Even your infant's first ride home from
the hospital should be made in an approved car seat. Shop for a seat that will fit
nicely in the back seat of your car and in which your child will be comfortable.
Read both your car seat manual and automobile owner's manual for the proper
installation and usage of your car seat.

Types of Car Safety Seats:

• Infant-only Seats
• Convertible Seats (infant rear-facing to toddler forward facing)
• Forward-facing Seats
• Combination Seats (child harness safety seat to belt positioning booster

seat)

• Booster Seats

Stage 1: Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat
Until your child reaches 12 months and 20 lbs he should always be in a rear-
facing infant car safety seat or convertible seat (Note: Some newborns do not fit
well in convertible safety seats). If your child's weight is greater than 20 pounds
before reaching 12 months of age a convertible infant to toddler car seat may be
rear faced until 12 months. There are also infant seats that can be used up to
35 pounds.

Stage 2: Forward-Facing Car Safety Seat
A Forward-facing, Convertible (infant/toddler) or Combination Seat should be
used until your child is 5 years of age and weighs at least 40 pounds. When
your child reaches the top weight allowed for his car seat or his ears have
reached the top of his car seat, you need a booster seat. If using a Combination
Seat remove the harnesses and convert to a belt-positioning booster seat when
your child reaches 40 pounds.

75