Home safety
Safe as
houses
Over 40% of all childhood accidents occur
at home and in the garden. Follow these
tips from the Child Accident Prevention
Trust to help make your home a safe home
What are the most common types of accidents? |
 |
Falls acou nt for over 40% of all home accidental injuries
to children. They are by far the most common single cause of home
accidental injury. Collisions with a person or object are the second
most common type of accidental home injury and the only one where
the injury rates are approximately the same for children of all ages.
Typically these accidents happen when children run into objects, run
into each other or are struck by a falling object. The need to remove a foreign body that has
been swallowed, inhaled or is stuck elsewhere is also a common cause of hospital attendance
for accidental home injury, followed by burns and scalds – with scalds from hot drinks being the
most common cause. The fourth most common reason for children being taken to hospital is
suspected poisonings. These happen when parents or carers think that children have consumed
medicines, household cleaners, DIY or gardening chemicals. Nine out of ten suspected
poisonings involve children under five years old.
Where do most accidents happen? |
Most accidents happen in the lounge/living/dining room – probably reflecting where children
spend most of their time. The next most common places in the home for accidents to happen
are the kitchen, bedroom and stairs.
What causes accidents to happen in the home? |
There are potential hazards within every home such as hot water, household chemicals, stairs,
fireplaces, matches, alcohol and sharp objects such as knives or scissors.
The design of houses can contribute to accidents. Features such as balconies, spiral or
open staircases, ponds, glass doors or open-plan kitchens can all increase the risk of accidents
happening to children.
Young children are not able to assess risk for themselves. They also have very poor
co-ordination and balance and need to touch and explore to learn about the world around them.
As children get older they learn new skills and
begin to understand what they are able to do
safely, but need to test out their new abilities
and to feel that they are taking some risks.
These factors all mean that children are particularly
vulnerable to accidents in the home.
What can be done to prevent accidents happening? |
Children grow and learn new skills rapidly.
It is important that the adults who care for
them know what risks each stage brings. It
is impossible to “childproof” a home, but
knowledge of the potential for accidents and
of effective safety measures can reduce the
risk of serious injury.
The following safety tips can help
prevent injuries to children by making the
home a safer place for them:
- fit safety gates to the top and bottom
of stairs
- check banister or balcony railings to
make sure children cannot climb on
them or fall through gaps
- fit safety catches on upstairs
windows
- keep furniture away from windows
- never leave babies unattended on
furniture or changing tables; they
can easily roll off
- wipe up spills as soon as they
happen to avoid slips
- encourage children to put their toys
away after use
- fix loose carpets and mats and do
not have trailing flexes.
- fit corner guards to sharp edges of
furniture
- fit smoke alarms and check regularly
that they are working
- close doors at night to stop fire
spreading
- if possible, install a fire extinguisher
and fire blanket
- keep matches and lighters out of
sight and reach of small children
- use fireguards on all heaters and
fires and do not use them to dry
clothes
- keep children away from ovens,
hobs and hotplates
- turn pan handles towards the back
of the stove and use back rings for
cooking when possible
- never fill a chip pan more than one
third full and never leave a hot chip
pan unattended
- use short or curly flexes with kettles
and keep them out of the reach of
children
- do not hold a child when you have
a hot drink and keep mugs and cups
of hot drinks well out of the reach of
young children
- turn irons off immediately after use
and never leave the flex dangling
- fit a thermostatic mixing valve to
your hot bath tap.
- keep all medicines out of sight and
reach of children – preferably in a
locked cupboard
- keep dangerous substances out of
reach of children – these include
household chemicals such as
cleaners, detergents and bleach, as
well as DIY materials such as paints,
thinners, strippers, varnishes, glues
and other adhesives
- remember that perfumes, essential
oils and alcohol can also be poisonous
to your children so keep them out
of their reach
- keep all dangerous substances in
original containers.
- supervise children in or near water
- never leave a child under five alone
in a bath even for a moment – do not
use bath seats as they do not prevent
drowning
- empty the bath immediately after use
- drain or securely cover garden ponds
- do not leave anything in the garden
that could collect rainwater – turn
buckets, wheelbarrows, etc, over or
put them away after use
- fit safety glass in low level glass in
doors and windows
- use safety film on glass in furniture,
or re-fit with safety glass
- mark large areas of glass with
stickers
- fit safety catches on drawers
containing sharp cutlery and knives
- keep kitchen gadgets and sewing
materials out of reach.
Suffocation, strangling and
choking |
-
do not use pillows, duvets and bean
bags for babies under a year old
- never use strings, ribbons and ties
on very young children’s clothes
- strings on toys over cots or playpens
should be shorter than 20 cm
- never string toys across a cot or
pram
- stay with young children when they
are eating or drinking and get them
to sit still
- supervise small children if they
are eating small pieces of fruit or
vegetables. Do not give peanuts to
children under six
- keep small objects like coins and
parts of toys away from young
children
- always keep plastic bags and plastic
film away from children
- follow the age recommendations on
toys – they are there for a reason
- don’t take your baby to sleep with
you in your bed or on the sofa. You
may accidentally suffocate him or
her while you sleep.
Factsheets and leaflets on all aspects of home
safety for children are available from The Child
Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT).
For more information, visit:
Website: www.capt.org.uk
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