Child Safety Week 2008
| Published: 9th June 2008 11:56 |
MAKE A CHANGE. MAKE A DIFFERENCE -CHILD SAFETY WEEK 23-29 JUNE 2008
6 June 2008
‘Make a change. Make a difference' is the message for this year's Child Safety Week running from 23-29 June.
Organised by national children's charity the Child Accident Prevention Trust, Child Safety Week is marked by thousands of local events where families can have fun and learn about safety. There will be quizzes and competitions, safety demonstrations and checks, in-store promotions, advice from local experts and free information to take away.
While accident rates are falling, 2,000 children are still admitted to hospital every week. Katrina Phillips, chief executive of Child Accident Prevention Trust says: "Many serious accidents could be prevented by parents making simple changes - whether it's driving more slowly where children are out playing, fitting and checking smoke alarms, getting their gas boiler serviced, keeping electrical items out of the bathroom, or moving hot drinks or cleaning products out of children's reach.
"If parents know what's likely to injure their child and are reminded how risks change as youngsters grow up, they are in a better position to avoid a harrowing trip to hospital."
Key facts
• Accidents in the home are the biggest cause of injuries to children under five
• More than 30,000 under fives are rushed to casualty each year after falling down a flight of stairs
• Hot drinks are the number one cause of scald injuries among young children
• Around 70 children under five end up in A & E every day as a result of suspected poisoning in the bathroom
• Fire is one of the biggest killers of children in the home
• Road accidents are responsible for half of accidental deaths in childhood
The charity is encouraging families to look out for Child Safety Week events locally and to visit its website www.capt.org.uk for useful safety hints and tips.
Parents can also obtain a set of safety advice leaflets by sending a stamped addressed envelope (27p) to Child Safety Week Leaflets, Child Accident Prevention Trust, 22-26 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AJ, stating the age of their child/ren in the bottom left-hand corner.
Ten key hazards with supporting stats and safety tips
Key hazard: Fire.
It's the biggest killer of children in the home.
Changes you can make: The sooner you are alerted to a house fire the more chance you have of escaping especially if the fire starts at night and you don't wake. Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home and regularly check that the batteries are working. Also, keep matches and lighters out of children's sight and reach.
Key hazard: Faulty electrics.
They start up to one in six house fires, whether the cause is overloaded sockets, loose wiring or damaged cables and leads.
Changes you can make: Turn off electrical appliances when going to bed. Try to use one plug per socket. If you need more, use a ‘bar-type' fused adaptor to plug in additional items, it puts less strain on the socket.
Key hazard: Falls.
Over 41,000 children under five were injured at home due to falls down stairs and steps; 6,000 as a result of falls from pushchairs and 700 as a result of falls involving windows.
Changes you can make: Fit safety gates to prevent children climbing stairs or falling down them; always use a five point harness in highchairs and pushchairs, and fit window locks or safety catches to stop windows opening more than 6.5cm.
Key hazard: Burns and scalds.
Every year around 28,000 under fives are rushed to hospital with a burn or scald.
Changes you can make: Keep hot drinks out of reach, turn saucepan handles inwards and at bath time always put cold water into a bath first, then add hot water and test the water with your elbow or wrist before a child uses it.
Key hazard: Swallowing something harmful.
Every year around 26,000 children under five go to hospital because it is believed that they have swallowed something harmful.
Changes you can make: Toddlers try to put everything in their mouths. Store medicines and chemicals safely. Ideally they should be kept locked up. Alternatively, keep them high up out of sight and reach. Either way, it makes sense to buy cleaning products containing a bittering agent such as Bitrex® as it makes them taste disgusting.
Key hazard: Drowning.
Around 5 under fives drown in the bath every year.
Changes you can make: Never leave babies or young children alone in the bath. Also, fill in garden ponds and empty paddling pools immediately after use to stop toddlers falling in and drowning.
Key hazard: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
You can't see it, smell it or taste it.
Changes you can make: fit carbon monoxide alarms wherever there is a flame-burning appliance (such as a gas boiler), make sure your appliances are serviced regularly by a CORGI registered installer and that ventilation outlets in your home aren't blocked.
Key hazard: Falling off bikes.
Each year, about 25,000 children are injured while riding bikes on or off the road.
Changes you can make: Always make children wear a properly fitting cycle helmet when cycling, skateboarding or roller-skating.
Key hazard: Car crashes.
Almost 5,000 children aged under 10 years were injured in car crashes in 2006 in Britain.
Changes you can make: Use appropriate child restraints in the car no matter how far you're going.
Key hazard: Over 10,000 children aged under 16 years were injured as pedestrians in Britain in 2006
Changes you can make: Watch your speed when driving through built-up areas - if you're doing 40mph and you hit a child, there's a four in five chance you will kill them. If you're doing 30mph, there's a four in five chance they will survive.
Child Accident Prevention Trust is a national charity committed to reducing the number of children and young people killed, disabled and seriously injured as a result of accidents.
