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Children need safe, secure place to play September is Baby Safety Month, and Safe Kids-Trident Area reminds parents and caregivers to plan ahead to make safe spaces for babies at home, at play and on the way.     Partnering with State Farm Insurance Company, the Safe Kids-Trident Area will sponsor a Child Safety Day, Saturday, Sept. 10. Child passenger safety technicians will help parents learn to properly install and check car seats from 9 a.m. until noon at Babies ‘R Us on Rivers Avenue.   Also this month, Safe Kids Worldwide will release a new video, “Smart Parents, Safe Kids,” for parents of babies and toddlers from birth to 3 years old. The 16-minute video provides an overview of basic safety considerations in the nursery, on the playground and in the car.   “This is a great introduction to child safety,” said Amy Ethridge, Safe Kids-Trident area coordinator. “No 16-minute video can teach a parent everything, but ‘Smart Parents, Safe Kids’ gives new moms and dads a good idea of the risk areas they need to think about.”   Some of the video tips include: In the nursery: Remove pillows, soft bedding and toys from crib; put your baby “back to sleep” (face up) on a firm mattress. Keep cribs away from windows and furniture. Install guards on windows that you will open, and tie up cords on curtains and blinds. Install smoke alarms on every floor and outside all sleeping areas. Install safety gates at top and bottom of stairs. In the kitchen: Never leave a hot stove unattended. Keep hot liquids, poisons and electrical cords out of reach, and keep cleaning products and other poisons locked out of reach. Don’t let children under age 3 eat small, round or hard foods such as hot dogs, grapes, hard candy, nuts or popcorn. In the bath: Mix hot and cold water together, and test the temperature before putting the baby in. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees to help prevent scalding. Never leave a baby alone in the bath. On the playground: Actively supervise children on the playground—be within arm’s reach. Avoid playgrounds with asphalt surfaces. Don’t let children wear jewelry or drawstring clothes on the playground. Pools should be fenced on all four sides and have self-closing gates. In the car: Children under 13 should always ride in the back seat in proper restraints. Babies under 1 year old and 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat, reclined at a 45-degree angle. Always check the harness for proper fit.   The video, produced by Safe Kids Worldwide with a grant from the MetLife Foundation, is available in English and Spanish and will be shown in maternity wards, pediatricians’ offices, prenatal classes and parenting support groups nationwide as well as at Safe Kids-Trident Area events.   For more information about baby safety topics such as childproofing, scalding, playground safety, drowning prevention and child passenger safety, call 792-5327 or visit http://www.safekids.org.    Safe Kids Trident Area works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children 14 and under, in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Its members include local fire and rescue personnel, police departments, health agencies, and others throughout our community who are committed to preventing unintentional childhood injury.   Safe Kids Trident Area is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids-Trident Area is led by MUSC Children’s Hospital.   Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.