The last thing any parent wants is for their child to be hurt or injured. Sadly, injuries are the leading cause of childhood death in Australia. About 300 children aged 0-14 die and 60,000 are hospitalised with unintentional injuries every year.
Drowning, falls, poisoning, scalds, burns, driveway accidents and dog bites are the major causes of death or injury in children. They can be prevented.
Lock medicines and poisons up high
You don’t want to turn place into Fort Knox, but medications and poisons are things kids just shouldn’t be able to reach and open. Don’t just put them up high – kids can climb. Use a safety catch on the cupboard or lock it so they can’t get access – and make sure the items have child-resistant caps.
Items include: medicines, cleaning, gardening products, petrol, paint, solvents, eucalyptus oils, batteries, moth balls, and rat and snail bait.
You can call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 at any time, day or night. Call 000 in a medical emergency.
Block access to the driveway
Littlies can be very hard to see when driving, especially reversing, in or out of driveways. Make sure there's a locked gate or barrier so they can’t wander where cars are entering and leaving.
Pool safety
Children can drown in just 5cm of water. Keep your pool securely fenced and the gate latched. Keep a first aid chart and life-saving device nearby. Install a pool sensor to set off an alarm when a child falls in.
Never leave your child alone around any times of water.
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Preventing falls and bumps
- Kids climb. Don’t put beds, chairs and furniture under windows that children can lean against and fall out.
- Install safety glass or shatter proof film in glass doors and low windows.
- Block off stairs (top and bottom) and balconies with safety barriers.
- Use corner cushion covers to protect against sharp corners such as coffee tables and benches.
- Use bath strips and non-slips mats in the bath and bathroom.
- Secure top-heavy furniture like bookcases and TVs to the wall, floor or ground.
Preventing scalds and burns
- Cook on the back hot plates of stoves with saucepan handles turned inwards. Use a stove guard.
- Use stove knob covers, oven locks and guards to stop children from accessing or turning on the stove or oven.
- Use gate barriers to stop little ones getting into the kitchen.
- Keep electrical cords, appliances and hot objects such as saucepans out of reach.
- Use placemats instead of table cloths.
- Always check the bath water temperature before bathing a baby or child.
- Cover your taps so your child can’t turn them on.
Cook on the back hot plates of stoves with saucepan handles turned inwards. Use a stove guard.
Cook on the back hot plates of stoves with saucepan handles turned inwards. Use a stove guard.
Cook on the back hot plates of stoves with saucepan handles turned inwards. Use a stove guard.Avoiding electrical dangers
Use covers on all power points and keep cords out of reach. You can get keyed covers if your little one masters the art of pulling covers off. Covers are available for power boards and single power points.
Place electrical cords out of reach and sight of children. An electric cord shortener helps prevent access to dangling cords on appliances and lamps.
Make sure your home has an electrical safety switch.
