Accidents happen all the time and, in the case of children and babies, many occur at home and involve everyday objects or activities we take for granted. As soon as children are able to crawl, they’re into everything! It’s a time when they’re keen to explore and get to know their surroundings, but it does mean you need to keep a careful eye on both what they’re doing and what they could do. The potential dangers continue past the crawling and toddling stage, with children of all ages at risk from accidents or injuries in the home.

 

“Accidental injury is the biggest single cause of death in children over the age of one year old and over 40 per cent of all childhood accidental injuries occur at home,” say the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT). Being aware of the potential dangers is crucial and minimising them as much as possible could save your child from an unpleasant accident. So, what are some of the common hazards in the home? 

 

 

Babies and young children have very sensitive skin and they’re particularly susceptible to burns and scalds. Hot drinks are frequently the cause of scalds, as they’re easily knocked over if unattended. Other hazards include radiators, heaters, irons and cookers.

 

The solution: Use fire or radiator guards to protect children from heaters, fires and hot radiators and try and keep hot drinks out of reach of inquisitive young hands. When cooking, turn the pan handles towards the back of the cooker and use the back rings whenever possible. If your water is very hot, try turning the hot water system down to reduce the risk of accidental scalding.

 

 

Everyday things that we take for granted, such as the stairs, windows and furniture in the home, can all prove to be dangerous for young children. Over 40 per cent of all home accidents are caused by falls, and they happen so quickly, so it’s good to be aware of any potential dangers.  

 

The solution: Fit safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and invest in some safety catches for the windows, especially upstairs. Keep furniture away from windows and never leave babies unattended on furniture or changing tables as they can roll or fall off very easily.

 

 

Small objects, such as toys, keys, coins or foods such as nuts, can all prove dangerous to young children. It’s their natural instinct to explore items with their mouth when they’re young, so anything small runs the risk of going straight into a baby’s mouth. In fact, say CAPT, over half of children taken to hospital after choking are under five years old and the risk does decline significantly with age.

 

The solution: Buy toys carefully according to the age recommendations, or if you have an older child, make sure their toys are kept on a higher surface and tidied up after being played with. Instead of putting your keys on the table or work surface, hang them up out of reach and remember to pick up any loose coins, too. As children can choke on small pieces of food, don’t leave items such as nuts where they could reach them and always stay with them whilst they eat their own food.

 

 

Everyday household products, such as detergents, bleach and cleaning products, may seem interesting to toddlers, especially when they see you using them. However, they’re very harmful if accidentally swallowed. Likewise, medicines, especially colourful tablets, can seem innocent to children, yet hold hidden dangers. CAPT say that suspected poisonings are the fourth most common reason for children being taken to hospital and nine out of ten instances involve children under five years old.

 

The solution: Ensure all poisonous household substances are kept well out of the reach of children, either in a high-up cupboard or, in the case of medicines, locked away.