The Best Guide for the Dagenham Area

Child Safety Week - Road Safety

Follow these simple tips to ensure your child remains safe and develops good road and traffic awareness:

• - Hold your child's hands and don't let them run ahead
• - Encourage your child to look out for hidden entrances and driveways across pavements
• - Use a rein or wristband on small children if they are not in a pushchair
• - Walk with your child on the side of the pavement furthest away from passing traffic
• - Never let your child out alone or even with an older child if they have to cross a road
• - Drivers can not always see children. Be more aware near parked cars and where cars are reversing
• - Always set a good example and cross in a safe place, explaining what you are doing
• - Cross at a pedestrian crossing or a crossing patrol whenever possible
• - Use the Green Cross Code with your child at all times. http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/arrivealive/greencross.htm
• - Remind your child to concentrate, they may be easily distracted, forget what they have been taught and dash out in the road
• - Make sure anyone looking after your child, follows the same road-safety rules as you do
• - Make sure your child wears bright or fluorescent clothes and reflective materials at night.
• - For older children, encourage them to be independent and let them make decisions with you, so they learn through activity.
• - Help your older child plan a safe route to the local shop, granny's house, friends place etc.
• - Your local council can help you find the safest routes for your child to walk or cycle to school.

Cycle Safety

Cycling is fun, healthy and environmentally friendly but is also responsible for twice the number of accidents in young people during the summer.  To keep safe on the roads take this advice:

• - Make sure your bike is the right size for you
• - Enrol in a cycling proficiency course. Your local school or council will have more details on how to do this
• - Learn your highway code
• - Find out where there are special cycle routes, paths and lanes in your area
• - Always wear a cycle helmet, even on a short journey. 85% of cyclists still don't wear a helmet, despite the well-known risks and benefits
• - Wear clothes that are visible to pedestrians and other road users
• - It is an offence to cycle at night without a white front light, red back light and back reflector. Keep your bike running properly, check tyres, brakes and chain regularly

Home Safety

While being at home can feel safe and secure, there are numerous hazards for babies and toddlers if precautions aren't taken.  Children are notoriously curious so it's essential to child proof your house and avoid unnecessary and sometimes serious injury.  Nearly 300 children and young people are admitted to hospital every day because of preventable accidents within the home:

• - Toddlers and small children are very good at climbing stairs, but not so good and getting down them again. Install stair gates where possible and never leave your child alone near an open staircase. Over 41,000 children under five were injured at home due to falls down stairs last year.
• - Cover your pond with strong wire meshing to avoid a tumble into water. Empty paddling pools immediately after use.
• - Don't leave a small child to eat or drink alone, choking can occur easily.
• - Remove anything climbable from beneath a window
• - Fit locks and catches on windows to avoid them opening more than 10cm. About 700 children under five are injured in falls involving windows.
• - Protect your sockets with covers to steer clear of electric shocks
• - Keep matches and lighters well out of reach from children. Never leave children alone with lit candles. Fit and regularly check a smoke alarm upstairs and downstairs in your house
• - Use pads, corner cushions or bumpers on furniture with sharp corners. Use child safety protectors on doors to stop them closing on little fingers
• - Install locks on kitchen cabinets and the oven door for extra protection
• - Use a non-slip mat in the bath to avoid slipping
• - Fit a plastic video lock on the front of video recorders to stop children getting fingers caught in the machine
• - Keep all small objects cleared away to stop children putting them in their mouths. Around 26,000 children are admitted to hospital each year having swallowed something harmful.