CHILD SAFETY IN THE

HOME

© PDST Home Economics

 LETS START WITH SOME FACTS…

• “Four fifths of the fatal accidents in the home happen

to children under five and elderly people over sixty-
five.” (Garrett, 1969).

• “More children under fifteen die from accidents in the

home than from infectious diseases.” (Garrett, 1969).

• According to “The Home Accident Surveillance

System: Analysis of Domestic Accidents to Children”
(1979), 42.6% of recorded cases of accidents to
children involved children aged 0-14 years.
 MORE RECENTLY…

• “Injury is the number one cause of death and

life years lost for children”… “In children
injury mortality is greater than childhood
mortality from all other causes combined.”
(North Western Health Board, 2003).

• “…children in the 0-5 age group are most at

risk of injuries in the home, with 1-3 year olds
experiencing the highest number of injuries.”
(National Injury Committee, 2006)
• Children are naturally curious and will therefore
explore the world around them.

• At every developmental stage, boys are the most

injury prone… “Boys will be boys!”.

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• The good news is that 9 out of 10 injuries can be
prevented by thinking and acting safe in everything
we do.

• Children do not understand danger, so parents and

guardians must follow some rules to make the home as
safe a place as possible for toddlers and children.
•
• It is therefore very important for parents and
guardians to anticipate children's developmental
stages and to prepare for them.
PREVENTION OF FALLS
• In the first year of a child's life, falls are often a
result of babies rolling over, and moving for the first
time. Never leave a baby alone on a high surface, even
for a moment.

• For toddlers and children, falls are often as a result of

the child exploring their surroundings for the first time.

• Luckily, there are some practical steps which parents

and guardians can take to make the home as safe a place
as possible for children to explore.
Avoid baby walkers as they can over-turn easily and
cause serious head injuries.

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Always use stair-gates at the top and bottom of the
stairs, and ensure that they are properly secured.

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%5B1%5D.jpg
Use anti-slip mats in the bath.

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 • Avoid placing furniture near windows to discourage
children from climbing.
• Fit all windows with window restrictors which do not
require tools for opening.
• When moving a child from cot to bed, attach a safety
rail to the edge of the bed.

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2301/CtgID/2302/af/_images/products/ catalogue/products/g4063/zoom/
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 Baby-no-bumps…
Hats to protect babies head!

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cl80toiletlocknewpicture.jpg
 IN ADDITION…

1. Ensure that walkways and stairs are kept clutter free.

2. Replace any missing banisters.

In preventing cuts and bruises, a number of precautions can be taken:

1. Always keep sharp objects out of the reach of children.
2. Heavy furniture, such as televisions and bookcases should be
strapped to the wall, to avoid danger of children pulling them
down upon themselves.
3. Store sharp cutlery, scissors etc in a drawer with cupboard
safety locks fitted.
4. Fit corner cushions onto the sharp edges of furniture, to help
avoid danger of children bumping off sharp edges.
5. Fit doors with door finger guards, to prevent children from
damaging, or even losing their fingers, as they stop the door
from closing completely.
PREVENTION OF BURNS
AND SCALDS
• In the home, nearly three-quarters of burns and
scalds in children under 5 occur in the kitchen.

• These injuries are most likely to occur at mealtimes.

• Almost three quarters of all scalds are from hot

drinks.
Always guard fires with both a spark guard and a
fire guard. Make sure that the fire guard is
secured to the wall.

• http://www.fireguards.co.nz/images/homepic.jpg
Use a cooker guard to prevent your child from pulling
hot pans down on top of themselves, and always cook
on the back rings where possible.
 Induction Cooking

Instead of traditional flames or electric components

to generate heat, induction cooking uses
electromagnetic energy. The placement of an iron or
magnetic pan onto an induction cooktop directs a
magnetic field to the pan causing friction which
creates instant heat. Only the cookware attracts
that heat, keeping the rest of the cooker top cool to
the touch.

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n.com/print/Kitchen-and-Bat
h-Design-News/High-Style-
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and-Energy-Efficiency/2$36
11
 Remember…

• When running a bath for baby, always run the cold

water first, and test the water temperature with
your elbow.

• Avoid using table cloths as children tend to grasp or

pull at them.

• Switch off and unplug all electrical appliances when

not in use.

• Matches and lighters are fascinating to children-

always store them out of their sight and reach.
Fire Prevention

©Microsoft Clipart Online, 2007

 Statistics

• Ireland has the worst record in the EU for child

deaths due to fire. (European Child Safety Alliance,
2007)
• ¾ of fires start in the living room and bedroom
between 8 pm and 8 am.
What steps are necessary to reduce the risk of fire
in the home?

• Install working smoke alarms in every room of the

house.
• Make a fire escape plan with your family.
• Close all doors before going to bed, and keep the
keys to all escape route doors in the locks.
• Always guard open fires with a spark guard, and
attach the fire guard to the wall, so that children
cannot move them if they fall against them.
• Keep a fire blanket and extinguisher in the house-
preferably in the kitchen, but away from the
cooker.
• Teach all members of the family how to use a fire
blanket.
 Always use socket guards, and turn off switches
when not in use.

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Prevention of Accidental
Poisoning
• In Ireland each year, unintentional poisoning of
children under the age of 5 leads to 1,000
hospital admissions.

• According to the National Injury Prevention

Committee (2006),most incidences of child
poisoning in the home occur between the hours of
7 and 11 am.
 How can unintentional poisoning be avoided?

• Keep all medicines in their original childproof

containers, and store them locked away in a medicine
cabinet or locked press.
• Store household chemicals and cleaners in cupboards
which are out of reach of children, and secure
cupboards with a child safety lock.

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kidsafeinc/catalog/am_cabnitelock_3.jpg
• Never use soft drink containers for storage of any
item which may be harmful or dangerous to children.
• Always buy toys which have a safety symbol, such as
the CE mark. (Some toys may contain paints or toxins
which are harmful to children).

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• Only give toys to children which are suitable for their

age and developmental stage.
Water Safety
• Never leave your child alone near water!
• Children of all ages can drown in very shallow water.
• Children under 1 are most at risk of drowning in the
bath. (Always empty bathwater immediately after
use.)
• Always use an anti-slip mat in the bath.
• Keep toilet lids down, and secure with a safety latch.

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cl80toiletlocknewpicture.jpg
Prevention of Choking
• Babies and children have a natural tendency to place
things into their mouths; from food to toys, to stones
and ribbons. All of these provide a choking hazard,
with food being the biggest risk factor.

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1. Children's clothes with ties or cords should be
avoided.
2. Curtain cords also provide a hazard, and should be
avoided while the child is young.
3. Never use pillows for babies, particularly in the
first year.
4. Never leave children alone at mealtimes, and cut up
their food into small pieces.
5. Keep plastic bags and cling film out of a child's
reach.
6. Do not allow children to eat in bed.

The best way to reduce the risk of a child choking is to

be constantly aware of what is within their reach,
and also of the child's developmental stage.
 Relevance to Home Economics Syllabus

• Junior Certificate: • Leaving Certificate:

• Quality/Product • Resource Management
Labelling and Safety and Consumer Studies:
• Safety in the Home Factors to be
• Childcare option: Stages considered for Housing
of Development and Technology topics/
• Design and Craftwork Quality and Safety
option: Factors to Markings and
consider. Considerations
• Room Planning • Housing Elective
End of Show.
 References
• Analytical Sales and Products (2007) What's New in 2007 New
Jersey: Analytical Sales and Products Inc. Available
from:http://www.analytical-sales.com/CE%20Mark.gif.
Accessed on: 04/11/07.
• Baby Enterprise (2007) Online Nursery Goods United States:
Baby Enterprises Ltd. Available from:
http://www.babyenterprise.com/IMAGES/clippaplussocketcover
s.jpg
. Accessed on: 04/11/07
• Babies Born (2007) Online catalogue-safety equipment West
Midlands:Babies-born.co.uk. Available from:http://www.babies-
born.co.uk/images/graphics/cl80toiletlocknewpicture.jpg,
Accessed on:04/11/07.
• Burman, S. and Gen, H. (1977) Accidents in the Home. London:
Groom Helm Ltd.
• Compare Store Prices (2005) Prince Lionheart baby safety
Surrey: Advanced System Technologies Ltd. Available
from:http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/pr/prince-
lionheart-cooker-guard.jpg. Accessed on 04/11/07.
• Creese, A. (1968) Safety for your family. London: Bell and
Hyman.
 References (2)

• Crime Prevention Products (2007). Securistay

Buckinghamshire: Crime Prevention Products Ltd. Available
from:http://www.c-p-p.co.uk/product/asp/ProdID/2301/Ct
gID/2302/af/_images/products/Security_Hardware/
Full_Images/securistay_window_lock.jpg. Accessed on
04/11/07.
• DK Images (2007) Discover Sports, Games and Recreation.
London: DK Images. Available from:
http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dkimage
s.com/discover/previews/
846/25110494.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dkimages.com/
discover/Home/Sports-Games-Recreation/Toys/
Unassigned/Unassigned-
034.html&h=768&w=664&sz=111&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbni
d=LgCDpkjsQ3-nJM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=123&prev=/images
%3Fq%3Dbaby%2Bwalkers%26svnum%3D10%26um
%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN Accessed on 04/11/07.
 References (3)
• Government of the United Kingdom, Department of
Prices and Consumer Protection (1979) The Home
Accident Surveillance System: Analysis of Domestic
Accidents to Children. Surrey: The National
Archives. Report CRDA/58/DS/1/1979/2.
• Garret, S. (1969) Children's Rooms; Plan your Home.
London: Studio Vista Ltd.
• Great Little Trading Co. (2007) Make the Most of
Childhood North Hampton: Great Little Trading Co.
Available
from:http://www.gltc.co.uk/pws/images/catalogue/pr
oducts/g4063/zoom/g4063_fr.jpg. Accessed
on:04/11/07.
• Girolamo, A. (2007) Kitchen and Bath Design News
Available
from:http://www.kitchenbathdesign.com/print/Kitche
n-and-Bath-Design-News/High-Style-Appliances-
Promote-Safety-and-Energy-Efficiency/2$3611.
 References (4)

• Gelson, H. (1976) Children about the House. London: Design

Centre.
• HBS International Trading Company (2004-2007) Welcome to
HBS International Jiangsu: HBS Internatinal. Available
from:http://www.hbsco.cn/rubber_mats.htm. Accessed on:
04/11/07.
• Hixson, M. (2007) Home Safety Products Ontario: Kidsafe Inc.
Available from:
http://www.kidsafeinc.com/stores/k/kidsafeinc/catalog/am_cab
nitelock_3.jpg
. Accessed on: 04/11/07.
• Kiddieproofers. (2007) Gates Ontario:Kiddie Proofers. Available
from:http://kiddieproofers.com/items/swing%5B1%5D.jpg.
Accessed on 04/11/07.
• National Injury Prevention Committee (2006) Child Safety
Inside and Outside the Home; A Guide for Parents, Guardians
and Children (DVD Recording). Dublin: Animo Communications.
 References (5)

• Superior Safety Guards (2007) Fireguards Christchurch:

Superior Safety Guards Ltd. Available from:
http://www.fireguards.co.nz/images/homepic.jpg. Accessed on:
04/11/07.
• United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (2003)
Childproofing Your Home - 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your
Children. Washington: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
• WebRing.inc (2007) Family Improvement: Helping Families Find
Balance in an Unbalanced World Washington: WebRing
Incorporated. Available from:
http://www.familyimprovement.com/Chas%20and%20gabe
%20fooling%20around%20on%20raven.jpg. Accessed on
04/11/07