Stay Safe
Small steps to safety...
Accidents are the second biggest killer of children in the UK. The steps which keep children safe from serious accidents are the small steps taken every day by parents and carers.
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Burns and scalds.
- It can take just seconds for some children to open child-resistant lids
- Everyday pain killers are the most common way for young children to be poisoned
- Cleaning products can be very dangerous if children drink them
Always put you baby down before you pick up a hot drink then you don't have to worry about them grabbing it. Put your drink out of reach from children - at the back of a work surface or desk. Try to keep children out of the kitchen when you are cooking - it is safer that way. Always put cold water in the bath first before the hot. Fit fire guards around all heaters in your house.
Poisoning
- It can take just seconds for some children to open child-resistant lids
- Everyday pain killers are the most common way for young children to be poisoned
- Cleaning products can be very dangerous if children drink them
Keep your tablets out of reach of children. Put safety catches on low cupboards or drawers. Never pretend medicine is a sweet. Get all gas appliances checked every year by a gas safe engineer.
Serious Falls
- Falls from cots, highchairs or windows are the most common causes of head injury
- Severe head injuries can lead to learning difficulties
- Most serious falls happen when children take their parents by suprise
Fit safety gates to stairs before your child learns to crawl. Do not put furniture infront of windows so children do not climb onto the windowsil. Fit windows with safety catches so they don't open as wide. Fasten your child into the high chair at all times.
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Think about it, do you always close the safety gate properly? Is your cup of tea safely out of reach? By taking small steps to safety, you can help protect children from serious harm.
Toddlers are curious about everything, and as they start to walk and climb, lots of things which used to be safely out of their reach become within their grasp.