KIDSAFE ACT... The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia

'Child Safety is No Accident'. Each day, about 5,000 children require medical attention as the result of an accident; around 170 are admitted to hospital, and one will die. That is on an average day, every day of the year. And most of these accidents are preventable.

Why make your home Kidsafe?

Homes are very special places. At home, we feel comfortable and safe. But for children, our homes are just not safe enough. Each year in Australia, about 500 children die, as the result of injury. Many thousands more, suffer needlessly.

Injuries are the biggest health problem our children face. It mightn't be in the news as often, but it's more common and deadly than any disease, or even child abuse.

And it's our youngest children, who are most at risk. In fact, half the children injured, are younger than five years old. More than half of these injuries, happen at home.

The good news is that you can protect children from harm. There are some simple steps you can take, to make your home a safer place for children.

How Accidents Can be Prevented

Accidents don't just happen out of the blue. They are caused by hazards. A hazard can be anything that has the potential to cause an injury.

So how do you make your home Kidsafe?

STEP 1 - SPOT THE HAZARDS

The first step in preventing accidents, is to be able to spot the hazards. The following information will help you find the hazards in your home.

STEP 2 - DECIDE HOW TO DEAL WITH THE HAZARD

This step depends on the hazard you are treating. You will have to make a decision about what is the best way to keep the hazard and children apart. Your decision, may depend on whether you can make physical changes to your home. The following information includes hints about different ways of dealing with hazards, to help you decide what to do.

As a rule, it's best to remove the hazard. The next best solution is to guard the hazard. After this, you can use personal safety gear. As a last resort, you can rely on watching the child, within grabbing distance.

Never depend on telling the child not to do something. The younger the child, the more difficult this is for them.

STEP 3 - MAKE THE CHANGES

Once you have decided how to deal with the hazard, do it straight away. Children are not protected, until they are separated from the hazard. You will feel more relaxed, and they will play more safely, when the hazards have been treated.

First Things First

If you don't already have a list of emergency phone numbers placed near your phone, take the time to make a list, and tape it in a prominent spot.

In an emergency, precious time can be wasted, looking up the right numbers, and panic can set in. Preventing a tragedy, is all about being prepared to handle things in advance. These few minutes you spend now, could save a child's life!

It's a good idea to learn first aid. Resuscitation is a skill every parent should have. Ring St. John Ambulance or Red Cross in your state, for more information.

Poisoning

We use and keep many chemicals in our homes that are harmful to children. Young children are very vulnerable to poisoning. Over the past 5 years, about 50 children have died from poisoning, and many more have been seriously injured.

The Poisons Information centres around Australia, deal with hundreds of calls each day. Most of these calls, are for children aged three and under. Common poisons are medicines, cleaning products, fertilisers and pesticides for the garden, as well as chemicals and cosmetics.

Take these steps to protect children:

Lock away all poisons when not in use. When using them, close the container immediately, and place up high as a temporary safeguard.

Install child-resistant catches on cupboards, where you store poisonous products. They can be installed quite simply, and don't interfere with your normal use of the cupboards.

Get rid of unnecessary poisons. Throw out anything which you are not regularly using. This includes medicines. Contact your local Council for advice.

Know what poisons you have. Check the containers, if you're not sure whether they are poisonous.

Keep poisons in their original containers. Never transfer a poison into another container.

Never call medicines 'lollies'. Remember, your headache pills and vitamins can be dangerous to children. Read all labels carefully.

Buy enough oven cleaner for a single use, and throw the rest away.

Choose safer products. Look for products in re-sealable child-resistant containers.

Use a lockable medicine cupboard in either the bathroom or your bedroom. Contraceptive pills and sleeping tablets should not be left on bedside tables or in drawers.

Handy Hints:

If you live more than 60 minutes drive from medical help, keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipecac in your medicine cupboard. Use only as directed by the Poisons Information Centre, or your doctor.

If you think a child may have swallowed a poison, take the container with you to the phone, and call the Poisons Information Centre. They will tell you what to do. It helps if you can tell them what the substance is, and how much the child has taken.

Children have been badly burnt, by swallowing a small amount of the sludge that sometimes appears inside dishwashing machine doors after use. If you only unload the machine while the child is sleeping, you remove the risk of this happening.

Electrocution

Electricity makes our lives easier, but it is also very dangerous. In the past five years, 33 children have died from electrocution. Most of these children, were aged under five. About 80% of the children coming to hospital with electrical injuries, are injured at home.

To make your home Kidsafe, take these steps:

Use electrical safety switches. These turn the power off when there is a fault, before people are injured. They are installed by an electrician, to your switchboard. OR, instead, plug-in safety switches can be used in each power point.

Unplug electrical appliances as you finish with them, and put them out of reach, and out of sight. This is essential, with hair dryers and shavers.

Don't use electric floor heaters in the bathroom. Only use the wall mounted type, placed up high.

Use plug-in covers, to stop children poking things into the power points.

Don't use electric blankets with children younger than two, or those still bedwetting.

Remember that electricity, water and children, are a dangerous mix.

Finger Jams

Finger jam injuries at home, usually involve children under age 3. Most often, their fingers are crushed or amputated in the hinge side of doors, when they are closed, or slam shut.

Take these steps to protect children:

Be aware of the increased risk of slamming doors, when both the front and back doors are open.

Use slow, self-closing springs on front and back doors, or use catches to keep them open.

Know where children are, to avoid closing doors on their fingers.

Special strips are available, to guard the hinge side of doors. These are very useful for doors which you need to close, such as bathroom and bedroom doors.

Use chocks, wedges or catches, to keep internal doors from slamming shut.

Nursery furniture and strollers, can also trap little fingers.

Handy Hint:

Let older children know how easily little children are injured this way. Ask them to check the door is clear, before they close it.

Drowning

Drowning is the number one killer of children aged one to five. More than 100 children drown in Australia each year. Most toddlers drown in their own pool, or a pool owned by friends.

If you have a swimming pool, you need pool fencing that isolates the pool from the rest of the yard and the house. This fencing should meet Australian Standard 1926, and have a self-closing, self-latching gate. The building surveyor at your local council can help you with more details. Keep the gate and fence in good condition.

Children also drown at home, in baths, spas, ponds, nappy buckets, and even post holes full of water. They drown silently and quickly, in as little as 5 centimetres of water.

You can take these steps to protect a child from drowning:

Always watch children near water. Always.

Take the child with you, if must answer the phone at bath time.

Nappy buckets should have a firm lid, and be stored up high.

Indoor spas should have a lockable door, and be emptied immediately after use. Outdoor spas should be fenced, the same as swimming pools.

Empty paddling pools, immediately after use.

Cover post holes or trenches during building.

After heavy rain, check your yard, and empty water that collects in containers.

Cover ponds, with a fixed grill.

Handy Hints:

Remember that flotation aids, are not lifesaver devices. Stay with children when swimming in the pool.

Learn how to give resuscitation, or take a refresher course. In an emergency, take the child to the phone, and call the ambulance. Directions will be given to you over the phone.

When visiting, ask about any drowning hazards. Many children have drowned at friends' homes, because their parents didn't know there was a pool, spa or pond on the property.

Burns and Scalds

Burns, smoke and scalds, caused the deaths of more than 100 children in Australia in the past five years. Children aged under five are most at risk. About three quarters of these deaths, were caused by house fires. Scalds are the most common type of burn injuries.

Young children can be scalded very quickly. These accidents often happen, when an adult is present, so you need to be alert. Hot water and hot drinks cause these injuries.

Take these steps to protect children from burns:

Make sure your microwave oven is out of children's reach. Turn it off at the power point if it is low.

Keep microwaved food and liquids out of reach, until cool enough to use.

Only boil enough water for your tea or coffee, and empty the rest. Hot water scalds for up to 30 minutes after it has boiled.

Have a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen, or use a large pan lid to help smother small fires.

Use stove guards and curly cords on electric kettles, to avoid children pulling down hot liquids.

Make sure stoves are firmly attached to the floor or wall.

Keep hot irons away from children. Put them high, to cool after use.

Keep matches and cigarette lighters, out of reach of young children.

Don't use petrol etc. to start fires or barbecues. Use heat beads.

Always watch children near barbecues, and dress them in low fire-risk clothes.

Always watch children in the bath, to make sure they don't turn on the hot water. Child resistant taps are useful to prevent this, and so are mixing valves.

Fill the bath with cold water first, add the hot water, and then a little more cold water to cool the tap. Put the child in last.

Handy Hints:

Door barriers and playpens can keep small children away from the cooking and ironing areas. Or put yourself and the ironing inside the playpen.

Some hot water systems can be turned down by the householder. Check yours. If you can adjust the thermostat, turn it down from hot to warm. This will also save you money.

Take a first-aid course. The treatment of burns and scalds has changed in recent years. Be sure you know what to do. Cool a burn or scald with cold water for 15 minutes. Seek medical advice.

Use a guard around fires and heaters.

Dress children in low fire-risk clothing. This is close fitting, and made of less flammable material. Be aware that cotton is highly flammable. Check nightwear for low fire-risk labels.

Keep hot drinks away from small children. Don't drink these, with a child in your lap.

Use place mats instead of table cloths.

Install a smoke detector. A smoke detector will warn you early, that there is a fire, and give you time to get out safely. Hardware stores sell them, and they are simple to install.

Plan a fire exit. Rehearse having to get out of your home. Make a game of it for children. Keep a torch, by your bed.

Teach children to "STOP, DROP, ROLL" if their clothes catch fire, and "GET DOWN LOW AND GO" in the case of a house fire.

Choking

Hard foods like peanuts, bones, raw carrot and apple are the main cause of choking in young children. While babies are at the stage of learning by putting everything in their mouths, all small objects need to be kept out of reach. This is very tiring for parents, but it's only for a short time.

As a rule of thumb, anything smaller than a ping pong ball can cause a choking problem. Coins and button batteries are particular hazards.

To protect children from choking:

Insist that they always sit down quietly to eat.

Grate apples and carrots for young children to eat.

Remove bones from young children's food.

Never feed a distressed child.

Buy toys made by 'known' makers. Check for strength, and parts which could come loose.

Check toys which are becoming loose. The stitching of soft toys can tear with use, and stuffing can be inhaled.

Polystyrene beads in bean bags and some toys, can be inhaled.

Handy Hint:

Be aware, that toys labelled 'not suitable for children aged under 3' means there are small parts which could be swallowed. It is not an indication of skill level or intelligence.

Falls

Falls are the most common cause of children needing medical attention. Though falls are rarely fatal, broken bones don't have to be a feature of growing up.

Take these steps to make your home Kidsafe:

Steps and stairs should be well lit. Children should be able to reach light switches, or else use night lights.

Avoid highly polished floors.

Use rug grips to avoid slipping.

Make sure floor coverings are in good condition.

Use gate barriers to keep young children away from steps, stairs and balcony rails.

Use corner protectors on benches, coffee tables and other sharp cornered furniture.

Don't use a baby-walker, especially near changes in floor surface or level.

Use a full body harness with prams, strollers and high chairs.

Be aware that babies can roll off changing tables. Have everything you need to use, close by when changing the baby. Always keep one hand on the baby.

Make sure bunk beds have guard rails, and a fixed ladder.

Children under 9 years of age, should not sleep on top bunks.

Handy Hint:

Insist that a helmet and shoes are worn, when children ride trikes and bikes. Have the children wear tough clothing, to protect their legs and arms.

Toys

Playing is fun. But most children who are injured, are hurt while playing. By choosing and using toys carefully, you can protect children from harm.

Take these Kidsafe steps:

Arrange places where toys can be used safely around your home - away from vehicles outside, and people traffic inside. Put coffee tables and other low furniture elsewhere.

Choose toys that are sturdy, and made by a 'known' maker. Make sure there are no sharp edges, brittle plastic, or parts which could snap off or be pulled off.

Keep toys belonging to older kids, away from young children. They may trap small fingers, or cause choking. Encourage the older ones to play with their own toys when the little kids are asleep.

Store toys for play, down low, so the children can reach them easily without having to climb.

Toys not in use, should be stored out of sight, until the child is old enough to use them.

Check the condition of toys, as you tidy up. Throw out any, you think are no longer safe.

Many toys can cause choking.

Handy Hint:

Avoid crushed fingers, by using a toy box without a hinged lid. Drill airholes in large toy boxes, in case children hide in them.

Dog Bites

They may be man's best friend, but the family pet can be a real problem for children. Each day, 2 or 3 children go to hospital, after being attacked by a dog.

And it's not usually a strange dog, that's involved. Around 75% of these kids, are bitten by their own family dog, or a dog owned by friends.

While all children under 12 years of age are at risk, it's the 1-4 year olds, who are at the highest rate of injury. The most serious injuries to these young children, are to the face and head, which often leaves them scarred.

These simple steps will help prevent dog attacks:

Remember… any dog can bite.

Keep babies and young children away from your dog, especially at feeding times.

Ask friends and family, to keep their dogs away from the children.

Always watch, within grabbing distance, if a dog is near children. Long time dog owners, need to be aware of this, when a new baby is added to the family.

Train your dog to obey commands. Take your dog to obedience school. The dog should obey 'come', 'sit' and 'stay' commands, from all family members.

Dogs trained as guard dogs or work dogs, should never mix with children.

Buy the right dog for your family. Ask the RSPCA or a vet, about the dog best suited to your needs.

Handy Hints:

Don't expect children, or your dog, to always obey you! Wait until children reach school age, before buying a dog.

Outside the Home

Like many places in our homes, outdoor areas are usually designed to meet adults' needs. They aren't often made with children in mind, yet children will spend more time there than adults do.

To make outside your home Kidsafe, take these steps:

Choose safe playing places for the children, away from driveways and cars. If possible, fence off access to the driveway.

Make sure play equipment is stable, has no jutting edges, and has at least 200 mm of chip bark or similar material under it, to cushion falls. It should be placed away from paths and solid garden edgings.

Cut off sharp branches that hang at the child's eye level.

Remove tripping hazards.

Trampolines are dangerous. If you must have one, set it in the ground, in a clear area. One kid at a time!

Check that barbecues are stable. If movable, put these away, when not in use.

Keep garages and sheds 'locked'. Store tools, chemicals, climbing hazards, petrol and other fuels, inside of locked garages and sheds.

Insist that children wear shoes, when outside. Dress them in hats, and use sunscreen.

Handy Hints:

Always check around your car, before driving off.

Hold regular clean-ups, to remove junk.

On the Farm

Children on farms, face special risks. A quarter of the tractor deaths in Australia, have been children. Most of these, were aged under 5. Older children are at risk too, especially when they help with farm work.

If you live on a farm, you will need to think about the particular hazards on your property, as these vary with the type of farming you do.

In general, to protect children on farms:

Store tools, chemicals and all equipment, including heavy tyres, in locked sheds and workshops.

Keep young children away from tractors and farm machinery.

Remove old machinery and woodpiles, from where children play.

Store guns, bolts and ammunition separately, in locked areas.

Provide a safe playing space, preferably fenced off from farming activities, dams and livestock.

Make silos inaccessible, by removing the lower steps.

Agricultural motorbikes are too heavy for young children. Many burn and crash injuries result when a motorbike falls on young riders.

Insist 'helmets' are worn, for horse and bike riding.

Handy Hints:

Know where the children are, and dress them in bright colours, so they are easy to see.

Check around machinery, before starting up and moving off.

A Word about Older Children

We often expect older children, to act as child minders for us. Certainly, caring for younger kids, is something most older children like to do. But we need to remember, that they are still children themselves, and not little adults. That applies to other chores we might ask them to do, too.

Take these steps with older children:

Remember, they still need to be supervised by an adult.

Be realistic about what a twelve year old can safely do. Don't expect them to be responsible in dangerous situations, like bathing the baby, or using a lawn mower.

Give older children training in safety. Teach them about the dangers around the home, and show them how to deal with these correctly.

Be realistic about what work young teenagers can safely do. Train them carefully, and supervise their work. Make sure they wear protective clothing, eye and ear protection, when needed.

Insist that they use safety-gear, like helmets, for bike, horse, roller blade and skateboard riding. Have them wear tough clothing. Roller blade and skateboard riders need elbow and knee pads, as well as wrist guards.

Praise sensible behaviour.

Handy Hint:

Encourage them to get their thrills, through sport or other exciting pastimes.

Visiting

Visiting friends and family, should be a time for relaxation and fun for everyone. Unfortunately, their homes may not be as Kidsafe as you would like. If no children live in these homes, it's likely that there will be many hazards, within easy reach of your child.

Take these steps to protect children:

Watch them carefully when visiting.

Check for ceiling fans.

Check whether medicines are within reach in bedrooms or bathrooms.

Ask about any drowning hazards. Many children have drowned at friends' homes, because their parents didn't know there was a pool, spa or pond on the property.

Always ask that a dog is shut away from where the children are playing.

Handy Hint:

When others visit you, have a spot up high, where handbags can be placed.

What if You Rent?

Take these steps to make your home as safe as possible:

Install as many movable safety products, like door barriers, as you can.

Ask the landlord to pay for a few important changes, like child-resistant catches on kitchen and laundry cupboards.

Also, ask about installing electrical safety switches and a smoke detector, as these protect everyone, and the property.

In the future, look for a home that has few hazards. Take the Home Safety Checklist along, to help you check out the property. Ask in advance, what child safety changes, that landlord is prepared to make.

What Else Can You Do?

Talk to your friends and family about the above information, and child safety.

Visit the Child Safety Centre in your state.

Give 'safety products' as gifts to friends and relatives.

Join the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia, and help support its work. Ring the Division in your state or territory, for details on becoming a member.

Learn first-aid. The first few minutes, can make the difference between long-term damage, and quick recovery. Ring St. John Ambulance or Red Cross in your state, for more information.

Home Safety Check

Check through your home, one room at a time. Write down anything you need to do, to make your home Kidsafe. Plan when you'll make the changes.

Throughout the home