Toolbox Talks 1 Keeping kids safe Accidents outside

Toolbox Talks 1: Keeping kids safe

Accidents outside of work Workplace injuries are responsible for around seven million lost working days each year… But non-work injuries are responsible for around three times that number That doesn’t include the days lost to care for injured relatives – especially children!

Why family safety? Accidents are the biggest killer of children and young people In fact, every year 450, 000 under-5 s end up in A&E following an accident at home. . . That's almost one child every minute!

In a You. Gov survey, two thirds of parents said they didn’t get enough information to keep their kids safe! Yet it doesn’t have to be like this!

What can you do? Just as at work, accidents at home don’t have to happen Simple steps can give you peace of mind Here’s are our top 10 tips. We’re sure you’ll have more of your own! And help keep kids safe. . .

1: Look at your home from a child’s point of view. . . Get down on your hands and knees and take a look at your home from a child’s point of view! From this level, you’ll notice any sharp edges, dangling cords, cleaning product bottles, small ornaments in easy reach You can then take simple steps (such as pushing the kettle and knife block to the back of the work surface) to move things out of reach, or make them secure by using cable tidies, or rug tape

2: Make blind cords safe Blind cord But the solution is Toddlers lackhappen the strangulations incredibly simple. motor skills required when toddlers Looped cords need to get themselves become tangled inout a securing out of reach of difficulty and looped cord dangling – either tied up, or have vulnerable from round blinds, aoften wound cleat windpipes. . . a bedroom in ainfigure of eight

3: Fit a safety gate Safety gates are Don’t forget to keep Pressure-mounted Falls from or designed tostairs be used Fitted gates are best gates are more stairs free of clutter, windows cause some until a child is won’t two, because they suitable forafter keeping tidy up toys use of the most serious and it’s recommended comekids outout of place if a of a and wipe up spills injuries to young that they goon atthem the child leans particular room like children top and bottom of promptly! the kitchen. a staircase

4: Fit window restrictors Remember that you might We’d also recommend need to escape out of a that you avoid placing window if there’s a fire, so furniture beds your familyor and anywhere guests a child couldhow climb to need to know toup easily Remember that you might reacha an open window restrictor! need to escape out of a window if there’s a fire, so your family and any guests need to know how to easily open a window restrictor!

5: Protect from scalds of It is. The the biggest law thatcause new homes childhood scalds is hot When a stay bath, the Don’trunning forget must have atothermostatic drinks, soiskeep them best advice always tolimit run within arm’s reach when mixing valve (TMV) to your in. They thehot, bath: out ofchild’s reach. can cold water before the temperature ofand young children bemix hot enough to can well todrown avoid bath to water to 48⁰c. TMVs quickly and quietly! even after to spots alsoscald behot “retro-fitted” 15 minutes your existing bath, or adjust your thermostat.

6: Lock away cleaning products and medicines Keep dangerous 100 children are Don’t forget about restricting medicines and access to any sheds every and garages hospitalised cleaning products or anywhere that may contain week due toreach high up, out of tools or chemicals! accidental poisoning and, ideally, locked away

7: Grille, fence, or fill garden ponds Also be aware of leaving full paddling pools unsupervised (turn them upsidedown instead), or water butts – it’s not just garden ponds that are a risk!

7: Grille, fence, or fill garden ponds A short video about. . .

8: Anchor furniture to the wall Most furniture is now Evenwith if furniture sold anti-tip seems secure, wall-strapspulling or drawers to open brackets do can just destabilise. . . as this job – make sure video you useshows! them!

9: Keep cots simple, and nappy sacks out of reach Sometimes it’s best to Nappy sacks have keep it simple. Youralso little recently identified one’s cotbeen doesn’t need aas causing suffocation and cot bumper, a pillow, choking in loose babies under bedding or soft a year oldtoys as these can actually be dangerous

10: Quarter small foods Insist children sit to eat Always supervise babies and drink, and not lie down, and young children when walk or run. Make sure young children securely they’re eatingare – it only strapped into their takes a second fora five them highchair (using to choke point harness if possible)

Find out more! Visit Ro. SPA’s Parent Hub for more tips – and to add your own: www. rospa. com/keepin g-kids-safe Got a specific safety question? Call our Freephone helpline, Lifeline for advice you can trust.

Family Safety Week. . .