Children are curious by nature. Bombs, bruises, scrapes and scratches are common especially when children grow and explore the surroundings. In our home environment, we want to let our kids explore, learn and have fun or at the same time protect them from harm. Common injuries at home are preventable and we all have a role to play in keeping our children safe.
At the emergency department at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, more than 100 children are brought in every day for unintentional injuries. More than half these injuries occur within the home. So parents and caregivers need to take extra precaution to childproof their homes as they allow their children to grow, explore and develop within the home environment.
We are also seeing an increasing number of children who are losing their lives through drowning, road traffic accidents as well as falls from height. So we must be very sure that we take extra precaution to make sure that our children grow up in a safe environment.
When traveling with a child, use a booster or car seat there is age-appropriate. Install your car seat properly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Buckle up for every ride. Never leave your child alone in vehicle.
You can use the following tips to ensure that your home is a safe place for your child. Install proper window grilles and safety gates to prevent young children from climbing up, losing their balance and falling. Ensure that gates are locked at all times.
During bath times and waterplay, you can have fun and yet keep the experience safe. Actively supervise your child. Never leave your child unattended, even for a minute. Avoid any kind of distractions, including reading or talking on the phone. Drain the tub immediately after bath time and keep toilet lids and bathroom doors closed to prevent drowning.
In the kitchen, do not carry a child while cooking. It is better to put your child in a high chair where you can see them. To prevent scalding or spills, use the back burner of the stove and turn pot handles away from the edge. Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edge of tables. Unplug and safely store appliances that heat up quickly such as iron or hair dryer after use.
The best thing to do is to keep small electronics or devices that use button batteries out of reach of young children. If you know that your child is still able to access them, secure the battery-controlled devices and always supervise them during play.
Ingestion of household products and liquids can have adverse health effects on children. Put all medicines out of reach of children after every use.
Young kids are often at eye-level with items under kitchen and bathroom sinks. Store all household products and cleaning solutions out of children's sight and reach.
All parents want their kids to have fun and grow up healthy and happy. With small steps to child-proof your environment, every accident is preventable. Everyone can play a part to keep our children happy, active and safe!
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