Preventing Childhood Injuries

Home Safety for the Under 5’s

Unintentional injuries in and around the home are a leading cause of preventable death for children under five years and are a major cause of ill health and serious disability.

It is often the things that don’t cross your mind that can cause an injury.

Download our checklist and tick off the prevention measures you have put in place.

TOP TIP: Get down to the height of your child – look through their eyes and see the dangers that may seem fun to them!

Child Car Seat Safety

The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a child car seat that is suitable for their weight and size, and is correctly fitted in the car and more importantly, the law requires all children travelling in the front or rear seat of any car, van or goods vehicle must use the correct child car seat until they are either 135 cm in height or 12 years old (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt.

Choosing the correct car seat is very complicated,
Toy Play Safety

Playing is a child’s job, and toys are the tools a child uses to get that job done. Toys help children learn, develop, and explore their surroundings. While most toys are safe, some toys can lead to injuries. These injuries can be the result of a flaw in the product design but can also happen when the toy is used in a way that does not follow the manufacturers’ instructions.

TOP TIPS:
Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for assembly and use.

• Check the age recommendations. Labels on a toy’s packaging can tell you if a toy is appropriate for your child’s age.
• With young children, avoid small toys and toys with small parts.
• Use a small parts test device. If a toy fits inside the tube, it is too small and can be a choking hazard for a young child. These test devices can be found at many toy stores and baby specialty stores.
• Check the diameter. Only children 6 years of age and older should play with small balls, marbles, and games with small balls or ball-shaped pieces. Any ball smaller than 1.75 inches in diameter can be a choking hazard.
• Think about the batteries. Choose electronic toys that have battery compartments that need a screwdriver to open or that have a child-resistant locking system. Batteries can be toxic of swallowed.
• Separate toys. If there are children of different ages in the home, keep toys for older children separate from toys for younger ones.
   

Use extra caution with riding toys:

• Make wearing a helmet a rule. Tell your children that they must wear helmets on scooters, skateboards and other riding toys that require balance. Elbow pads and knee pads are also recommended.
• Avoid riding near a street. Only let children ride in open, flat areas away from traffic.
• Supervise. Closely supervise any child younger than 8 years of age on a riding toy.
• Check for recalls. Visit Recalls.gov to see if any toys you already own have been recalled.

Child Safety Pack for Parents

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) have produced a pack for parents with top tips and advice on how to prevent injuries happening in the home.