A
large part of preventing accidents and injuries is to be aware
of problem areas and situations. How may people after experiencing
an accident comment that they should have known better? Some
of the tips may seem a bit obvious, but safety should be everyone's
concern and therefore we have provided these tips. We hope
that you will find the information in this section useful.
We
will be adding topics as they become available. In this section
we have the following tips;
Home
Safety for Children
Take
the time to survey your home for things that may pose a danger
to your child. Try sitting on the floor in the middle of each
room to see how it looks through a child's eyes. Look for
things that might attract attention and consider how they
can be made safe.
General
Garbage and recycling materials are stored in covered containers.
Keep
purses closed and out of reach of children, a purse can be
the source of medicines and matches.
Set
your home's water heater temperature at no more than 120 degrees
to prevent scalds and burns.
Doors
Decals placed at a child's eye level on sliding glass doors
can help to warn them when the doors are closed.
Buy
a special guard to keep a patio door locked to prevent your
child from opening it and slipping out. This will also help
protect your door from the outside and prevent unwanted entry.
Be
aware that any open door, can pose a hazard.
Watch
for little fingers when closing doors.
Use
safety doorknob covers on doors that you don't want your child
to open. Attach a bell to the door so you can hear it when
it does open.
Windows
Install window safety devices and adjust them so they cannot
open more than 100 millimeters (four inches).
Don't
leave furniture or anything that can be climbed upon near
a window.
Install
safety glass in large windows and French doors so they won't
shatter if a child falls into them.
Window
covering cords are one of the products most frequently associated
with strangulation of children under five. The younger victims,
usually between 10 to 15 months of age, typically are in cribs
which have been placed near window covering pull cords.
Although
a few older children, usually from two to four years old,
find cords hanging near the floor, most of these victims become
entangled in cords while climbing on furniture to look out
the window. Entanglement and strangulation can occur when
a child is alone in a room for only a short time
General Advice
Keep all window covering cords out of the reach of children.
Unless the cords can be completely removed from a child's
reach, including when a child climbs on furniture.
Electricity
Cover all electrical outlets that are not in use with safety
plugs that snap into the outlets. Children might be tempted
to try to insert something into exposed outlets. Check for
exposed outlets behind furniture that you may have overlooked.
Keep
fans and other appliances up high, out of children's reach.
Do
not use extension cords unless absolutely necessary. Be sure
that the extension cord is rated for the amount of electricity
that you will draw through it.
Shorten
all cords with cord shorteners. Shortening extension cords
will reduce the risk of tripping.
Halls and Stairways
Safety gates should be installed at all open stairways if
required. If a gate is not provided, place a barrier of some
kind in front of the stairway that a child cannot climb over.
Accordion-style gates with large V-shaped or diamond-shaped
openings should not be used since they can entrap a child's
head, causing strangulation. A gate with a straight top or
small V's and diamond-shaped openings is safer. Make sure
pressure gates are firmly in place and can't be dislodged
by the child.
Place
the safety gate bar latch on the side farthest from your child's
reach.
Never
leave anything on the stairs that you can trip on while carrying
your baby.
Furniture and Accessories
Put away any unstable or rickety furniture your child could
pull over. Fasten to the wall high bookcases or other tall
pieces that your child may be able to pull down.
Keep
all drawers firmly closed so your child can't shut fingers
in them or climb on them.
The Kitchen
General Kitchen Safety
Keep all cleaning products, pesticides, and other volatile
substances locked up.
Use
unbreakable dishes for feeding a young child.
Keep
step stools out of reach.
Clean
up spills immediately to prevent slips and falls.
Keep
boxes of plastic kitchen wraps and plastic grocery bags out
of your child's reach to avoid suffocation.
Don't
use long phone cords that a child could trip on or wrap around
their neck.
Countertops, Cupboards and Drawers
Never sit your child on the countertop. Besides the danger
of a fall, they can easily reach for items that can harm them.
Use
cabinet and drawer guard latches to keep certain reachable
cupboard doors and drawers off limits to your baby.
Use
cord shortners on appliance cords in order to keep them short
and away from where child can pull on them.
Keep
garbage in a tightly covered container, or better yet, behind
a securely latched cabinet door.
Highchair Safety
Be sure the tray is locked and always secure the restraint
system.
To
prevent pinching watch your child's fingers and hands as you
slide the tray in place.
Never
leave your child alone in a room in a highchair.
Keep
the highchair a safe distance from tables and countertops.
A child can tip it over by pushing off with hands and feet.
Appliances
Turn the handles of pots and pans toward the back of the stove
or counter. Use the back burners for cooking whenever possible.
Don't
let your child play at your feet while you are cooking.
Use
a stove guard to prevent your child from reaching the stove
burners.
If
your child can reach the controls on the front of the stove,
try installing stove knob covers.
Never
leave a boiling pot or sizzling skillet unattended on the
stove.
Teach
your child that the oven is 'hot' and not to touch.
Install
an appliance latch on appliances such as the microwave, refrigerator
and dishwasher.
Keep
the dishwasher closed when not in use. There are many sharp
edges that can hurt a young child inside.
Store
appliances, such as electric toasters and can openers, where
your child can't reach. A child can be electrocuted if they
attempt to plug them in.
Bedroom
Ensure that your child cannot become trapped inside the toy
box:
· lids should be lightweight and removable
· latches should be removed and ventilation holes added
· hinged lids should include a support that will hold
the top open.
The crib mattress fits the side of the crib snugly and toys,
blankets, and pillows are removed from the crib.
The Bathroom
Never let children lock a bathroom door. Go in the bathroom
with young children to assure this doesn't happen. If the
door does become locked it should be possible to unlock it
by inserting a pin into the hole on the outside of the doorknob.
Know where the unlocking pin is. When not in use, keep the
bathroom door closed and the toilet seat and lid down. If
at all possible, place a guard on the lid to lock the toilet
seat.
Be
sure that all medications are stored high and out of reach
of children. This also applies to any cleaning supplies, hair
sprays, and other personal care items. Consider adding child
proof locks to the lower cupboard doors.
Place
adhesive non-slip stickers in the bathtub and shower to prevent
falls.
Use
soft, inflated spout covers to save child from bumps and bruises.
Never
leave a child under 5 in a tub by themselves.
Medications
All medications should be kept in a locked and very secure
place at all times. Remember that a high place is not always
a secure place and they should be kept out of sight and out
of reach.
Make
sure all medicines are in child-resistant containers.
Don't
save old prescription medicines. Flush them down the toilet
when you are finished using them.
Don't
tell your child that medicine tastes "like candy"
or is good. It's better to have to struggle to get them to
take it than to tempt them to take more when they don't really
need it.
Store
children's vitamins in a safe place.
If
your child does manage to swallow or eat any medicine, get
whatever you can out of the mouth and call 999 immediately.
Have the bottle in your hand so you can tell them what was
ingested and approximately how much.
When
placing the crib in the room, make sure that your child cannot
reach lamps, electrical cords, shades or blinds.
Don't
place the crib near a window especially on the second level
of a house.
Never
tie the baby in the crib and do not let the baby wear a necklace
or a soother on a cord around the neck. Don't leave rattles,
teethers or squeeze toys in the crib. They can become wedged
in child's mouth causing suffocation.
Bassinets and Cradles
A bassinet or cradle should have a wide base and be sturdy
and stable.
Do
not use a basket not intended to be a bassinet. Loose wicker
can poke and hurt a baby.
Keep
diaper-changing supplies out of baby's reach.
If
you keep a diaper pail near the changing table, be sure it
has a locking lid. If it does not, keep it where your child
cannot get at it.
Infant Seats (also called Bouncer Seats)
Look for a wide base, non-skid bottom and a crotch and waist
safety belt.
Don't
place your child in an infant seat on top of a counter or
table.
Never
use an infant seat as a car seat.
Infant Swings
Never leave your child unattended in either an infant seat
or and infant swing.
Use
a head support for infants.
The
two most common types of injuries from swings are entrapment
of a child's head when it gets caught between the edge of
the backrest and the bars from which the seat hangs and falls,
when the back of the seat collapses.
Walkers
Walkers are dangerous and have been responsible for many injuries.
Use of these devices should be done under very careful supervision.
If you have a walker with wheels, the wheels should be removed
or discard the walker all together. New style walkers (standers)
are designed to be stationary.
Playpens
A playpen can inhibit your child's exploration and environmental
stimulation so you don't want to place your child in one all
day.
The
sides should be high enough to contain an 18-month-old child
(Approximately 20 inches).
Never
tie a toy across the top of the playpen, it is a strangulation
hazard.
Keep
the railing secured tightly; a child can become entrapped
in the pocket formed between the floor edge and the mesh siding
and suffocate.
Be
sure that your child cannot lower the side of the playpen.
Strollers
Always engage the stroller brakes when not in motion.
Don't
use a stroller that doesn't have a safety strap. Many injuries
occur when children are not securely strapped in.
Check
for a wide sturdy base and a locking device to prevent accidental
folding.
Be
sure that your child's fingers are out of the way when folding
or closing the stroller.
The Backyard Pool
Fence your pool inside your yard, so it cannot be entered
directly either from the house or the back yard. The fence
should be at least four feet high, with spokes and slats not
more than three inches apart. If you use chain link fencing,
be sure the links are small enough so a child cannot climb
on them. Be sure nothing blocks the view of the pool from
the house.
A
water activated pool alarm may be necessary if the pool can
be accessed directly from the house.
Install
a child resistant spring lock gate, self-closing and self-latching,
with the latch at least 54 inches from the ground.
Install
textured concrete or other slip resistant material around
the pool.
Install
a phone by the pool, so you won't be tempted to leave your
child even for a minute to answer a call.
Don't
use glass of any kind by the pool.
Use
only battery operated radios and televisions by the pool.
Common sense pool rules
Each family should make their own set of inflexible pool rules
and insist that everyone, child or adult, adhere by them.
Never
leave a child alone in a pool. In fact, don't take your eyes
off the child. Drowning can occur in a matter of seconds.
Don't
drink alcohol while you are watching children.
Ensure
your child can demonstrate good head control before you take
them into the pool.
Don't
allow children under five in a spa or hot tub. Children are
more sensitive to stress from high water temperatures.
Don't
trust swimming lessons to protect your child. In a panic,
even a good swimmer can forget what to do.
No
rough-housing or running by the pool.
Don't
swim during thunderstorms.
Never
allow riding or wheeled toys of any kind in the pool area.
These can easily be ridden into the water.
Safety Outdoors
Never let an infant or toddler play alone outside. Even a
child in a safety harness or napping in a carriage needs to
be watched almost constantly.
Keep
swimming or wading pools inaccessible to babies and toddlers.
If you have a swimming pool keep it fenced in and keep the
doors and windows to the pool area locked.
Check
the play area frequently, watching for broken sidewalks that
need repair, loose boards on wooden steps, holes or ditches
in the lawn that should be filled.
Clean
areas of all animal droppings.
Watch
for poisonous plants in the backyard and pull up mushrooms
and toadstools as soon as they appear.
Install
childproof locks on gates and don't leave anything near the
gates that a child could climb on to.
Keep
a constant eye on a child that still puts things in their
mouth, stones, twigs and dirt are as attractive as rattles
and teethers.
Make
sure outdoor play equipment is safe and sturdily constructed.
Place play equipment at least 6 feet away from fences and
walls.
Teach
your child about dangers they may find in their play area.
Create a vocabulary of warning words (Ouch, Hot, Sharp etc.).
Keep
your child out of the area altogether when the lawn is being
mowed. Flying debris can seriously injure a small child.
Don't
leave a hose lying in the sun. Water in it can get hot enough
to scald a child.
Keep
children away from a grill at all times, especially when you
are cooking on it.
Personal
Safety
Here are some questions to help you explore your own personal
safety. Just to make it easy, you should be answering YES
to all of the following questions. If you answer No, have
a closer look at the item to see if that is really how you
wish to handle the situation.
In the home:
Do you keep doors and windows locked at all times?
Do
you have a peephole so that you can see who is outside without
having to open the door?
Do
you verify a person's identification before opening the door?
If
a stranger asks to use your phone, do you refuse to let them
into your home and offer to make the call yourself?
Do
you, as a woman living alone, use your first initials only
in telephone directories, on mailboxes, etc.?
Do
you refuse to reveal personal information to anyone on the
phone or at your door?
Do
you always have your keys ready when approaching your home?
If
you return home to find windows and doors tampered with, would
you avoid entering and go to a neighbour's house to call the
police?
Telephone answering:
Do you teach family members not to give personal or family
information to strangers over the phone?
Do
you instruct older children who are babysitting or the babysitter
to always say that you are at home, but busy and so they will
take a message?
Do
you record only non-specific messages on your answering machine
and avoid messages such as: "We'll be back around 7 o'clock
on Friday"?
Do
you use the telephone company's 'Caller ID' feature?
If
you have a pager, do you 'Call Forward' your calls from your
home to the pager?
If
you receive an obscene or crank call, would you hang up immediately,
saying nothing?
On the go:
Do you plan in advance the safest route to your destination?
Do
you choose busy, well-lit streets?
Do
you avoid routes that pass by high-risk areas?
Do
you avoid isolated bus stops?
Do
you walk facing traffic so you can see approaching cars?
Do
you walk near the curb to avoid the element of surprise or
someone hiding between shrubs or in a doorway?
Do
you stay out of reach if someone in a vehicle asks directions?
Are
you wary of approaching strangers?
If
you continue to be followed, do you flee to the nearest safe
place?
Do
you try to get a description of the person and/or vehicle
following you?
Do
you avoid carrying large sums of money in your purse or wallet?
Do
you carry your purse close to your body, without wrapping
the straps around your arm or hand?
Do
you avoid leaving a purse unattended, even for a moment?
Do
you avoid displaying large amounts of cash in public?
In your car:
Do you always lock your car doors while driving?
Do
you keep windows rolled up whenever possible?
Do
you avoid picking up hitchhikers?
Do
you keep your car in good running order to avoid breakdowns
in dangerous areas?
Do
you look for well-lit areas to park your car?
Do
you always lock your car when it is parked?
Do
you look around the car before you get out, especially at
night or in deserted areas such as underground parking lots?
When
returning to your car, do you have your keys in hand?
Do
you look in the back seat before getting into the car?
If
you are being followed, do you avoid going home and go to
the nearest place of safety instead?
We hope that this has proved to be a valuable exercise in
examining your personal safety.
Precaution
During Summer
In the summer the combination of high heat, high humidity,
and smog can be very dangerous. You need to be EXTRA CAREFUL,
those especially at risk during these weather conditions include:
· The elderly
· People with certain chronic illnesses, such as heart
or lung conditions or people unable to move or change position
by themselves
· Infants and preschool children
· People who exercise vigorously or are involved in
strenuous work outdoors for prolonged periods
· People taking certain medications, for example, for
mental health conditions. (Please consult your doctor or pharmacist).
· People who drink heavily
· People who use illicit drugs
How to avoid heat related illness:
· Drink lots of water and natural juices even if you
don't feel very thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee
and cola.
· Avoid going out in the blazing sun or heat when possible.
If you must go outside, stay in the shade as much as possible
and plan to go out early in the morning or evening when it
is cooler and smog levels may not be as high as in the afternoon.
Wear a hat.
· Take advantage of air conditioned or cool places
such as shopping malls, libraries, community centres or a
friend's place.
· Try to spend some time near the lake or waterfront
where it is cooler.
· If you don't have air conditioning, keep shades or
drapes drawn and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home,
but keep windows slightly open.
· Keep electric lights off or turned down low.
· Take a cool bath or shower periodically or cool down
with cool, wet towels.
· Wear loose fitting, light clothing.
· Avoid heavy meals and using your oven.
· Avoid intense or moderately intense physical activity.
· Try to take it easy, and rest as much as possible.
· Never leave a child in a parked car or sleeping outside
in direct sunlight.
· If you sleep outside during the day, try to sleep
in the shade. Remember the sun moves, so try to sleep in a
spot that will be shady for a few hours.
· Fans alone may not provide enough cooling when the
temperature is high.
· Consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding side
effects of your medications.
Get help from a friend, relative, or a doctor if you have
the following
Symptoms of heat illness:
· Rapid breathing
· Weakness or fainting
· More tiredness than usual
· Headache
· Confusion
Friends and relatives can help someone with heat illness by
doing the following:
· Call for help.
· Remove excess clothing from the person.
· Cool the person with lukewarm water, by sponging
or bathing.
· Move the person to a cooler location.
· Give the person sips of cool water, not ice cold
water.
If you become ill, faint, have difficulty breathing or feel
confused and disoriented, call your doctor.
In an emergency, call 999.
Summer
Safety: Fan Facts
DO...
· Use your fan in or next to a window. Box fans are
best.
· Use a fan to bring in the cooler air from outside.
· Use your fan by plugging it directly into the wall
outlet.
DON'T...
· Don't use a fan in a closed room without windows
or doors open to the outside.
· Don't believe that fans cool air. They don't. They
just move the air around. Fans keep you cool by evaporating
your sweat.
· Don't use a fan to blow extremely hot air on yourself.
This can cause heat exhaustion to happen faster.
If you're afraid to open your window to use a fan, choose
other ways to keep cool.
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