January's safety message of the month-House hold safety

Accidents to Children

Accidental injuries are a major health problem throughout the United Kingdom. They are one of the most common cause of death in children over one year of age. Every year they leave many thousands permanently disabled or disfigured.

More than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units. Many more are treated by GPs and by parents and carers. On average 62 children under the age of five died as a result of an accident and over 76.000 under  the age of 14  are admitted for treatment of which over 40% are under 5 years of age.

Those most at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 years age group. Falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents while the highest numbers of deaths are due to fire. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety.

What injuries occur?

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.³ Younger children have a higher percentage of burns and scalds as well as poisoning and ingestion accidents.³

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Where do accidents happen?

The largest number of accidents happen in the living/dining room.³ 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.³

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When do accidents happen?

• Most happen between late afternoon and early evening, in the summer, during school holidays and at weekends
• Factors such as stress, death in the family, chronic illness, homelessness or moving home increase the likelihood of the child having an accident
• Some happen when the usual routine is changed or when people are in a hurry
• Distractions and inadequate supervision are often the cause of accidents
• Poor housing and overcrowded conditions lead to increased numbers of accidents
• Some accidents are caused by lack of familiarity with surroundings, for example, when visiting friends or relatives, or in holiday accommodation.

A Checklist for Parents

KITCHEN 76,000 under 5s attend A & E following a burn or a scald each year.

1.     Does your kettle have a ‘curly’ or short flexi Lead?	Yes/No
2.     Are household chemicals and medication stored in a secure place out of the reach of children?	Yes/No
3.     Do you have a first aid kit?	Yes/No
4.     Are knives and scissors kept out of children’s reach?	Yes/No
5.     Are floor surfaces non-slip and securely fixed?	Yes/No
6.     Do you keep pan handles turned inwards and out of children’s reach?	Yes/No
7.     Are children kept away from the iron?	Yes/No
8.     Do you make sure that hot drinks are kept out of the reach of children?	Yes/No
9.     Are spillages cleaned up immediately to prevent slips?	Yes/No

LIVING AND DINING ROOM Most accidents to children happen in the living room.

10.  Do you have a fixed fireguard?	Yes/No
11.  Do you keep alcohol out of reach?	Yes/No

BATHROOM  13 children under 5 die each year from drowning.

12.  Do you have a non-slip mat in the bath?	Yes/No
13.  Are children supervised during bath time?	Yes/No
14.  Do you always run the cold water before adding in the hot?	Yes/No

BEDROOM 40,000 children swallow pills, chemicals, cosmetics & perfumes each year.

15.  Are window restrictors fitted and in use?	Yes/No
16.  Do you keep furniture away from windows?	Yes/No
17.  If you use bunk beds, are safety bars and a secure ladder in use?	Yes/No

STAIRS Over 40,000 children under 5 are hurt each year as a result of a fall down stairs.

18.  Do you have safety gates fitted in your home?	Yes/No
19.  Are the stairs free from clutter & obstacles that could cause a fall?	Yes/No
20.  Do you have good lighting on and around the stairs?	Yes/No
21.  Are horizontal banisters boarded over to stop children climbing up them?	Yes/No
22.  Are banister rails close enough to stop children falling through?	Yes/No
23.  Are stair carpets and other carpets fixed down securely	Yes/No

GENERAL Just under 1 million children need hospital treatment as a result of an accident in the home each year.

24.  Do you have a smoke detector fitted and working?	Yes/No
25.  Are gas appliances and heaters checked and serviced regularly?	Yes/No
26.  Do you keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach?	Yes/No
27.  Are small toys, coins and small objects kept away from toddlers?	Yes/No
28.  If you are a tenant do you report urgent repairs immediately to your landlord	Yes/No
29.  Do you keep floor areas clear of obstacles and free from clutter?	Yes/No
30.  Do you make sure that electric sockets are not overloaded or damaged?	Yes/No
31.  Do you make sure that there are no trailing flexes or wires?	Yes/No