Tip of the month: Helping children stay safe in the home (in conjunction with Child Safety Week)

The Child Accident Prevention Trust’s annual education campaign, Child Safety Week, runs from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th June 2024.

The aim of Child Safety Week is to reach as many families as possible with important safety advice, helping families build confidence and skills in managing the real risks to children’s safety. Ultimately all children should have the freedom to grow and learn, safe from serious harm.

At least half of all under-5s will attend A&E this year because of an accident and every week at least one child under-5 is killed because of an accident, with disadvantaged children most at risk.

According to a recent RoSPA report, the largest number of accidents in children happen in the living/dining room. However, the most serious accidents happen in the kitchen and on the stairs. Every year more than 67,000 children experience an accident in the kitchen – 43,000 of these are aged between 0-4 years; 58,000 children have accidents on the stairs.

The most severe injuries are associated with heat-related accidents and falls from a height. Older children are more likely to sustain fractures than younger counterparts. Younger children have a higher percentage of burns and scalds as well as poisoning and ingestion accidents. 0-4-year-olds have the most accidents at home and Boys are more likely to have accidents than girls.

Childhood injuries are closely linked with social deprivation. Children from poorer backgrounds are five times more likely to die as a result of an accident than children from better off families – and the gap is widening.

Preventable accidents in the UK are rising and deaths reach an all-time high, warns a RoSPA report. It reveals that you are substantially more likely to suffer a serious accident today than you were 20 years ago. Accidental deaths have risen in England (up 40%), Scotland (up 57%), Wales (up 41%) and Northern Ireland (up 56%) since 2013. Accidents are the second biggest killer of people under 40 (after intentional injuries) and the most common cause of preventable death in children under 15.

And with the schools soon closing for the summer holidays, children will be looking for new ways to entertain themselves.

A lot of people are still working at home. Where this is happening, home working risk assessments should have been carried out, considering things such as overloaded plug sockets and tripping over computer cables. Organisations have begun to shift their focus to educating their staff to keep themselves and their families safe in their own homes, as well as in the workplace. With a little more planning and care, most accidents could be avoided.

Follow our safety tips to help prevent accidents in the home:

• Make sure you buy children’s toys for the correct age group and from reputable sources that comply with standards (e.g. The Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995)
• Remember to buy batteries for toys that need them – that way you won’t be tempted to remove batteries from smoke alarms
• Look out for small items that could pose a choking hazard to young children, including parts that have fallen off toys, button batteries and burst balloons
• Ensure plastic bags (including nappy sacks) are out of reach to prevent choking
• Use a water thermometer to check bath water temperature and prevent burns or scalds
• If you have blinds on the windows, ensure you have them secured with child safety clips to prevent strangulation on a looped blind cord
• Keep all cleaning products out of children’s reach to prevent accidental poisoning
• Keep items away from fires and other heat sources such as light fittings. Don’t leave burning candles unattended, make sure you put them out before going to bed.
• Don’t let children play with lights and remember to switch off lights when going out of the house
• Keep decorative items high up where they are out of the reach of young hands
• When preparing meals, give yourself enough time to prepare and cook to avoid hot fat, boiling water and sharp knife accidents that come from rushing, and keep anyone not helping with dinner out of the kitchen.
• Wipe up any spillages quickly to prevent slips and falls
• Always use scissors to open packaging, not a knife, and have screwdrivers at the ready to assemble toys
• Do not have trailing cables and wires around the home, as these are a major trip hazard
• Falls are the most common accidents so try to keep clutter to a minimum. Make sure stairs are well-lit and free from obstacles
• If planning fireworks at home, plan well in advance and follow the Firework Safety Code

Whether you’re a parent or carer, a grandparent, a health visitor, a nursery nurse, or a company, simply share our tips with friends or on social media.

Who knows, you could save a little life!

You can get further resources from the RoSPA website or if you require support with any risk assessments, including in the home, email us or call us on 0117 453 5904