Injury Prevention Program
The Injury Prevention Program works to prevent unintentional injuries among people of all ages and abilities with particular emphasis on the underserved residents of Boston. Our program focuses on reducing injury risks through education, resources, and legislation.
We offer workshops on behavioral strategies and improve access to prevention resources. Our program aims to keep our neighborhoods safe and injury-free.
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1010 Massachusetts Ave
2ND Floor
BOSTON, MA 02118
Programs and Initiatives
Bicycle safety
Learn about Boston's bicycle safety programs and request a helmet for as little/low as $5.
Buckle Up Boston
Keep your child safe on every car ride. Find a free local car seat fitting station.
Covid-19 prevention for older adults
Older adults and individuals with serious underlying medical conditions are at greater risk of severe illness from Covid-19.
Fire and carbon monoxide safety
Information and resources to learn and be prepared to keep you and your family safe in case of a fire emergency.
Older adult falls prevention
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for older adults in the United States.
Water safety
Approximately 10 people a day die from unintentional drowning. Two of which will be children 14 or younger.
Window falls prevention
Our partnership with Boston Building Resources makes window guards affordable for Boston residents.
General home safety tips and resources
General home safety tips and resourcesCarbon Monoxide (CO) safety
Learn tips to keep your home and child safe from carbon monoxide and burns.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas
- Check your CO alarm every month and replace the alarm if it is older than 10 years, replacing the batteries at least once a year
- Never use your oven or stove to heat your home
- Never leave your car running inside of an enclosed garage
- Learn more about carbon monoxide safety here
Additional resources
- Use safety gates at the top or bottom of stairs if possible
- Secure TVs and furniture to the wall using mounts or anchors to prevent tip-overs
- Keep furniture and anything a child can climb on away from windows
- Install window guards inside of your home to prevent window falls
Learn more about our Window Fall Prevention program.
Additional resources
Tips
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and near all sleeping areas
- Check your smoke alarm every month and replace the alarm if it is older than 10 years, replacing the batteries at least once a year
- Keep lighters, matches, and candles locked and away from children
- Keep hot foods and liquids out of children’s reach. Cook with pots and pans on back burners and turn pot handles to the back of the stove
- Learn more about fire safety
More resources
NFPA Smoke Alarms Save Lives
Injury prevention
Learn how to prevent injuries like falls in your home.
- Keep medicine, vitamins, cosmetics, and chemicals stored up and locked away from children
- Use cabinet locks to keep children out of areas with harmful items inside
- Read medication and product labels to learn what may be dangerous to children
- Dispose of unused or expired medication at a disposal location. Find a disposal location near you here
Additional resources
- Poison Prevention Infographic
- Safe Kids Medication Infographic
- Stay up-to-date on recalls related to babies, toddlers, and young children
- Read warnings of recalls closely. If a product is unsafe immediately stop using it
- For product recalls visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission or sign up for Safe Kids Worldwide recall newsletter
Additional resources
- Remember the sleep safety ABC’s when putting your child to sleep:
- Alone. Your child should sleep alone in its crib, without pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals
- Back. Your child should sleep flat on their back on a firm mattress with a fitted sheet
- Crib. Your child should only be sleeping inside of a crib or pack-n-play and shouldn’t sleep on a chair, couch or other furniture. Co-sleepers can also be dangerous and are not recommended
- Learn more about sleep safety
- Give your child toys appropriate for their age, interest, and ability
- Be aware of small parts, magnets, and other choking or poisoning hazards on your child’s toys
- Learn more about toy safety
- Supervise children around water
- Never leave a child alone in a tub
- Close toilet lids, bathroom doors and laundry room doors
- Use child locks on doors and toilets in your home
- Teach children how to swim. Enroll children in swim lessons if possible
- Learn more about water safety
