For many families the return of a school routine brings with it a gap of time when kids will be home alone on weekdays. Recent statistics show that nearly five million kids, ages 14 and under, are injured in the home each year. The vast majority of those injuries occur when children are most likely to be out of school and unsupervised, so the time to create a safe “home alone” environment is right now.

Here’s a list of things you can do to help make sure your child is safe during those after-school hours:

•    Keep a list of all emergency numbers (doctor, hospital, police, fire, etc.) and the phone number of a trusted family member or friend in a visible place near the phone, and make sure he knows how to use the phone and the list.

•    Have your child check-in with a parent or trusted neighbor after arriving home from school daily.

•    Train your child about the dangers of electrical appliances.

•    Remind your child to never tell anyone on the phone or at the door that she is home alone. She should use a phrase like, “My mommy/daddy can’t come to the door/phone right now.”

•    Have a clear fire plan and make sure your child knows that plan well.

•    Keep a first aid kit including bandages and basic items easily accessible and show him how to use it in case of minor incidents.

•    Prepare a snack or meal for your child in advance, preferably one that does not require her to use the stove or oven.

Make sure your child knows how to reach you, no matter where you may be.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of seven should never be left home unsupervised. Children between the ages of seven and ten aren’t usually ready to be unsupervised, but can manage in very structured environments. Children between the ages of 11 and 13 should be judged on a case-by-case basis, but should not be left in charge of younger siblings nor should they be left alone overnight.

Until next time...

Kevin Ogle, a native Oklahoman, is a news anchor on Oklahoma’s NewsChannel 4.