Tips to keep kids safe at home

Every day in New Zealand an average of 22 children are admitted to hospital because of unintentional injuries or accidents For young children birth to 4 years old most of these injuries happen at home

Media stories have reported on recent home injuries with serious and fatal consequences fires caused by kids playing with matches and lighters poisoning due to ingestion of adult medication children swallowing button batteries and kids crushed by heavy appliances

Does this make the home a dangerous place And what can you do to prevent these injuries

Young children are injured more at home because they spend more time there This is why keeping a safe home environment where children can grow and learn is important said Safekids New Zealand Director Ann Weaver

One strategy Safekids suggests is to take a small childs point of view Children see their home from a very different perspective and whats safe for adults may not be for small children Ann asks

Get down on your elbows and knees What do you see Can they see a toy on an unsecured bookcase Are there lighters matches or button batteries lying around And are there medicines or household chemicals they can reach Ann asks

Below are some important tips to keep kids safe in and around the home this winter

Secure heavy furniture and appliances If kids see colourful objects food drinks or toys on top of ovens TVs book shelves and dishwashers they may try to climb them Remove the object and secure furniture correctly using a safety device

Store matches and lighters in a safe place Letting kids play with lighters and matches is like leaving them with a loaded gun Keep lighters and matches out of sight and reach Teach kids to bring you any matches and lighters they find Make sure your smoke alarms are working

Button battery dangers It takes as little as two hours to cause severe burns once a coinsized lithium battery has been swallowed by a child SEARCH your home for gadgets that may contain coin lithium batteries eg TV remotes singing cards toys SECURE coin lithium batterycontrolled devices and keep them out of sight and reach of children Keep loose batteries locked away

Warm up safely Its a good idea to have your heating devices eg heaters electric blankets checked before using them again this winter season Teach kids the Keep a metre from the heater ruleif the child is very young use a safety guard And watch out for kids when consuming hot liquids Hot water burns like fire

Know the firerisk labels for childrens nightwear Red means the garment is a high fire risk and more suitable for summer wear Orange is a warning to choose closefitting options White means the garment is a lower fire risk It does NOT mean there is no fire risk

Remember the SAFE rule against poisoning STORE all medicines and chemicals out of childrens sight and reach ASK your pharmacist for safety caps on medicines FOLLOW the dose instructions from your doctor or pharmacist and ENSURE you follow safety instructions on medicines chemicals and cleaners

Date : 11 May, 2012
Reference : www.voxy.co.nz/health/tips-keep-kids-safe-home/5/123107

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