Safety tips for parents


Safe as Houses Did you know that over one million children attend casualty departments every year? By following some simple safety rules, you can help reduce the chance of accidents. Remember that babies are naturally inquisitive creatures (and that’s how you want them to be!) so it makes sense to baby and toddler proof your home.


• Fit safety gates on stairs and window restrictors on low windows


• Lock medicines away, well out of sight and reach


• Ensure all fires have a fireguard in front of them


• Keep all cosmetics and perfumes safely away as some are poisonous


• Fit child resistant catches to cleaning products cupboards


• Tidy plastic bags out of reach


• Clear the floor of small objects a child could choke on


Further Information can be found on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) website www.rospa.com


Carbon Monoxide Young children are particularly vulnerable to the silent, invisible and odourless gas that can leak out from faulty gas appliances. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be fatal so it’s important that all gas appliances are regularly checked and maintained.


Smoke Alarms Fires are one of the leading causes of death in the home, so installing a smoke alarm should be top of your list to protect you new baby as well as other members of the family. RoSPA can give advice on the best alarms to fit & some fire services also offer a free service.


First Aid It’s also a good idea for all parents to refresh their first aid knowledge - the British Red Cross can help www.redcross.org.uk


It’s never too early to start thinking about safeguarding your children…


K


eeping your babies, toddlers and children safe is one of a parent's or carer's most important jobs. It will start off as trying to prevent accidents by using stairgates and fireguards but as they get older and start to spend more time away from your care, you will need to start thinking about other issues.


The Safe Network was set up to provide advice, support and guidance to voluntary and community groups who work with children and young people in England, as well as providing parents and carers with information about how to safeguard their children.


A joint partnership between the NSPCC, Children England and the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the network provides a whole range of advice and support for groups about what they need to have Small Steps 22


in place to ensure children can take part in activities safely. It also has dedicated information for parents and carers covering such topics as preventing bullying, online safety, questions to ask groups as well as other pages covering important topics.


You should always remember that it is absolutely fine for you to ask anyone looking after your child - whether they are a child-minder, after school club, church group, etc. what they do to safeguard children.


For more information, take a look at the Safe Network website. www.safenetwork.org.uk


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