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Keeping the kids safe at home

Getting kids and parents to think creatively about child injury prevention in the home has been the focus of a recent campaign run by Kidsafe.

On average, every year in Australia 250 children are killed and over 58,000 are admitted to hospital as a result of unintentional injury. The majority of these incidents occur in the home and many are easily preventable by simple means.

Executive Officer of Kidsafe Victoria Melanie Courtney hopes that the national campaign will create some online buzz around preventing injuries to children. It involved people being asked to get creative and send in their stories and illustrations about an injury hazard in the home and how this hazard can be dealt with to reduce the risk of injury for children.

The best entry will be turned into an animated safety promotion to be featured on the national Kidsafe website.

If you’re not sure just how kid-proof your home is, try walking around it and observing it from your child’s perspective.

Kidsafe says the following spots are the most likely to offer hidden dangers to little people:

Kitchen – How easy is it to reach sharp objects, poisons, detergents, plastic bags and stove tops? Do the cupboards have childproof locks? Are medicines, cigarettes, matches, alcohol out of reach? Children like to climb or pull themselves up and will use tablecloths, chairs, tables or anything available, so get down near the floor and see it as they do!

Stairs – What will stop your adventurous small one from heading up and down the stairs, or poking its head through the balusters?

Windows – Are there blinds with looped or long cords? How easy is it to open the window and lean out? Barriers have now been legislated as mandatory in new buildings over a certain height.

Glass - Most houses built before 1985 do not have safety glass in windows and doors. If you cannot install safety glass, add safety film or stickers. Glass within furniture (such as in a TV cabinet or coffee table) could also cause serious injury.

Doors – How easy is it to close the doors in your home? Little fingers can get caught far too easily, so look for gaps between the door and jamb, particularly on the hinge side. And ensure that you can unlock any door that has been accidently locked with a child on the other side.

Pool Gates and Fencing - Check that the pool gate closes and locks securely and that the fence is in good order with no objects stored against it that could allow children to climb over them.

The campaign, including a sample of one of the first animations by the Disability Services Australia team, can be found on the national Kidsafe website. The site also offers a booklet entitled A Parents Guide to Kidsafe Homes that is well worth downloading.