Home Safety-Resource Task

Home Safety- Basic Facts

It is not possible to make a home completely safe for children, especially as they start to crawl, however a lot can be done to prevent many accidents.

General Tips:

-Put dangerous objects away

-Keep children away from dangerous situations

-Make items children have contact with as safe a possible

Dangerous Objects:

Plastic Bags- danger of suffocation if placed over the head

Small, hard objects: sweets, peanuts and pieces from a toy- they can be swallowed and choked on. Choking is one of the most common accidents in infancy because children put things in their mouths

Sharp Objects: there are quite a large number of these in the average home- knives, razors, needles and scissors. These should be kept out of reach of children.

Flammable items: matches, lighters, petrol, paraffin, mentholated spirits and fireworks- these should be stored where children cannot reach them.

Dangerous Situations:

This applies particularly to toddlers because they are able to move around but are not able to understand safety.

Safety barriers and gates prevent young children from going where they shouldn’t whilst no under adult supervision i.e. the kitchen. They should be too high for children to climb and the bars should be close enough together so they can’t trap their hands, feet or head.

Some dangerous situations are:

Electricity- can cause shocks and can cause injury from moving parts e.g. fire hazards