Child Safety Matters

Babies and children under five are at the greatest risk of death, disability or serious injury from everyday home accidents.

Safe at Home shares information with parents and carers to help them learn how to be ONE STEP AHEAD of their child by raising awareness on how accidents happen and providing useful tips to minimise the risk of potential injury to their little one.

Safety Advice

Listed below are some of the different types of accidents that can happen at home. We explain how the accident can happen and also how YOU can stop it ever happening to your child.

Burns – Scalds – Falls – Poisoning – Choking – Drowning – How can you prepare? – Safety Campaigns

Burns

50% of house fires attended by the Fire & Rescue Services are homes WITHOUT working smoke alarms. Smoke, fire and flames KILL around 4 children under five each year, from a dry heat source such as FIRE, hair straighteners, ovens, hobs, radiators, candles, lighters. Burns cause serious injuries requiring long periods of treatment in hospital.

How can I keep my child safe?

Keep hair straighteners out of reach – ideally place hot straighteners into a heat resistance storage pouch immediately after use to cool down and store the pouch out of reach.

Keep young children away from cooker, hobs and bbq’s when cooking; ensure children do not climb near work surfaces.

Teach older children about kitchen safety rules and hot things.

Keep lighters and matches out of reach

Never overload sockets

Never leave food cooking unattended

Replace a Chip Pan with a thermostatic Deep Fat Fryer

Fit smoke alarms to each floor and Test alarms regularly- replace immediately if not working – A smoke alarm could save a life!

Button Cell batteries cause chemical burns internally – Keep out of reach

Scalds

Hot Drinks are the cause of the majority of scald injuries in the under 5s. Scalds cause disfiguring scarring from a hot liquid source such as hot drinks, kettles, saucepans and bath/tap water.

How can I keep my child safe?

Keep hot drinks out of reach; drinks can scald for at least 15 minutes after being made; a child’s skin is 15 times thinner than an adult’s skin

Never hold a baby and hot drink at the same time

Shorten the kettle lead and place kettle at the back of the worktop

Keep pan handles turned inwards

Regulate water temperature by fitting a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV)

Falls

At around 20,000 per year, falls are the main cause of A&E admissions for children under five. Most commonly falls are from furniture such as Bunk Beds, Adult Beds, Sofa, Changing Tables and Highchairs. The most serious accidents are from a balcony, window or stairs.

How can I keep my child safe?

Never leave baby on a raised surface. Babies learn to roll, rock or move very quickly; change nappies on the floor

Never put a car seat or bouncing chair on a raised surface

Always use the correct harness in buggies, highchairs and other equipment

Fit window restrictors to accessible windows to prevent children falling from a height

Fit non-trip safety gates (for children under 24 months) to prevent falls on stairs – always close the gate.

Keep stairs free from clutter.

Always restrict and supervise children near balconies.

Poison

Around 4,000 under 5’s are admitted to A&E due to poisoning each year. 70% are from prescription and over the counter medications, household cleaning products, garden insecticides and DIY products such as methylated spirits.

How can I keep my child safe?

if possible keep all medications in a high lockable cupboard.

Often medication is kept in handbags. Keep handbags on a coat hook out of children’s reach, including bags belonging to visitors.

Keep all chemicals and cleaning products in a lockable cupboard or on a high shelf. Consider all areas, including kitchen, bathroom, toilets, sheds and garages

Carbon Monoxide awareness – Gas appliances should be checked annually by an approved Gas Safe engineer, and ensure a CO alarm is fitted

Button cell batteries – Keep out of reach of children.

Choking/Suffocation

Suffocation or strangulation whilst sleeping is the leading cause of accidental death in the under 5’s – 50% of children who die are under 1 year old.

Suffocation – due to a ‘restriction’ to the airway from products such as cot bumpers, pillows, baby nests, soft bedding and cuddly toys.

Strangulation – due to blind cords, electrical cables, loose ribbons and cords on clothing/toys etc.

Choking – due to the inhalation and ingestion of food or drinks such as large pieces of grape, cherry tomato, feeding bottles propped in the cot etc.

How can I keep my child safe?

Always place baby flat on his/her back to sleep. Lay them face up, face clear with their feet to the bottom of the cot/crib or moses basket, in the same room as parent for the first 6 months.

Never use pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, sleep positioners or baby nests/cocoons.

Use a well-fitting baby sleep sack or cellular blankets tucked in.

Keep nappy sacks out of reach.

Keep sleep space clear – no toys or additional softness.

Never place the cot near window blinds – use a blind cord cleat or cord winder to keep the cord out of reach of children.

Unplug electrical cables when not in use and store safely. Use a cable tidy or secure cables to skirting boards where possible.

When baby is sleeping or unsupervised always remove clothing or items that may add risk, such as headbands, and dummy/soother cords.

Always supervise your child when they are eating or drinking.

Cut food into thin batons.

Drowning

On average 13 children will die each year in places such as the bath, paddling pool, garden ponds & buckets. Ninety percent of children who die are aged between 1 to 4 years, and 40% of child deaths due to drowning are in the bath.

How can I keep my child safe?

Ensure adult supervision at all times.

Remember baby bath seats are NOT safety devices and babies should never be left in one unattended.

Babies are unable to lift their faces out of water if they fall face down.

Never leave a child alone in a bath even for a few seconds, drowning is quick and silent.

Never leave an older sibling or child to look after a young baby in the bath, paddling pool or near water.

Always supervise children when they are using a paddling pool and empty the pool when playtime has finished.

Book your children onto swimming lessons at your local pool: https://www.activeluton.co.uk/hydra-learn-to-swim/hydra-learn-children

Two woman hold baby dummies so they can learn CPR

How can you be prepared?

It is recommended that all parents attend a Paediatric First Aid Course as this may save a child’s life – ask in your local Flying Start Children’s Centre. Have a First Aid Kit at home (a plastic container with basic first aid essentials is fine)

Seek medical advice – CALL NHS 111

For serious injuries take child immediately to the nearest Accident & Emergency Dept

In the case of emergency DIAL 999 for an ambulance

Safety Campaigns

Sometimes we can easily forget that everyday things around the home can cause serious harm to babies and young children, always be aware not just in your own home but also when visiting the homes of family or friends. It is also good to share these tips with other parents to raise awareness and help keep all children safe. Remember accidents don’t have to happen.