Childrens Safety
Everyday items can be harmful to children. This information gives you a good starting point but you can get more information from the links below.
Every day items
- small watch batteries can be choked on, and the larger batteries can cause poisoning – if your child swallows or bites into a battery, call your doctor immediately
- keep lighters, matches, and lighter fluid out of the reach of children
- keep all plastic bags away from children – this includes dry cleaning, rubbish, produce, and shopping bags, as well as thin plastic wrapping that surrounds food and other goods
Water
- never leave any bucket of water or other liquid unattended when young children are around – they love playing with water, and can easily drown by toppling into it
Stay safe
- install a carbon monoxide alarm (available from DIY stores) on each floor of your house if you heat your home with oil or gas, or have a wood stove or fireplace
- install fire alarms and test them regularly
Places to play
remove dry cleaning bags from garments as soon as you bring them in the house. Children love to play in wardrobes and can easily smother in the bags
Doors
Doors fascinate children. They swing back and forth. They can be slammed and make a fabulous noise. There are hidden treasures behind doors. To prevent accidents with doors you can:
- use door stops for constantly used door – your child's fingers can get pinched at the hinge of the door or when the door is shut on them
- check bathroom doors to make sure there is an emergency release on the outside. If not either replace the knob or tape it so that your child cannot lock him – or herself in the bathroom
Stairs
The staircase may look ordinary to an adult but to a child it's a world of climbing adventure.
- make the stairs 'off limits' unless you are within inches of your child and are ready to catch them
- place safety (stair) gates at both the top and the bottom of stairs
Windows
- try to avoid placing furniture right underneath a window – this is a climber's delight
- open your windows from the top, not the bottom, to provide ventilation
- fit special locks that only allow the window to be opened a short distance
- make a rule that children are not allowed to play next to patio doors – falling through a patio door can cause serious or even fatal injury
