Spring safety guide: Top tips for keeping children safe
As the days get longer and the weather starts to improve, new hazards for children emerge. So, here are our top tips for keeping children safe from serious accidents this spring.
Spring cleaning
Whether you’re a spring cleaner or not, this is the perfect time to think about where you store your cleaning products. Small children are curious and want to learn more by putting things in their mouths. So, if they can reach it, they’re at risk of accidental poisoning.
- Keep cleaning products out of their reach in a high or lockable cupboard. And don’t forget to put them away after each use.
- Don’t rely on safety caps – they slow children down, but they’re not childproof.
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Look for products that contain a bittering agent like Bitrex – it tastes so horrible children will spit it out instead of swallowing.
Decluttering
Decluttering your home can feel like an impossible task, especially if your to-do list is already overwhelming. But here are some easy decluttering wins that are quick and help stop serious accidents.
- An easy place to start decluttering is the toy box. Look out for: Broken toys, super-strong magnets that can rip through your child’s belly, easy-access button batteries that can kill your child if swallowed, long cords that can strangle small children and small parts that can choke them.
- Avoid decanting cleaning products into jars or other prettier dispensers. It might look pretty but it can put your child at risk.
- Clearing walkways and stairs of clutter can reduce trip hazards and falls. Plus, if there is a fire in your home you’ll have a clearer escape route.
- Recycle your used button batteries as soon as you can. Flat button batteries are still dangerous.
Windows
As the weather gets warmer it will be great to open windows and let the fresh air in. But toddlers and young children are at greatest risk of falling out and suffering serious injuries. Partly because their heads are heavy compared with their body so they can easily topple. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to keep them safe.
- Keep low furniture away from windows so that children can’t climb up and fall out – even on the ground floor.
- If you can, install window restrictors (to limit how far they can open) or locks.
- If you opt for a lock, keep the keys somewhere you can find them in case there’s a fire and you need to get out.
- If your window won’t lock or you need to open the window wider because of heat or cooking, don’t leave young children alone in the room.
In the garden
Are you lucky enough to have a garden? Or can your child play in the garden of family or friends? Outdoor play is a great way to burn off energy but do keep these safety tips in mind.
- Check chemicals like weed killer are kept away from curious youngsters and garden tools are locked away in a shed.
- Avoid children of very different weights jumping on a trampoline together. It can cause accidents. And use a net to prevent falls.
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Keep young children in arms’ reach around water, whether that’s a hot tub, paddling pool or pond. Remember drowning is silent.
Out and about
As the days get longer and the weather improves, we’ll likely be spending more time outside. Whether you’re walking, cycling or scooting, spending time together out in the fresh air is always a winner. But don’t forget to keep safety in mind.
- Use this time to practice the Green Cross Code with your children. That way your good habits crossing the road safely can become theirs.
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Encourage your child to wear a helmet every time they go out on wheels to protect their head.
Water safety
With more time outside, it’s also important to keep water safety in mind. Did you know little ones can drown in just a few cm of water? It happens quickly and is silent. Fortunately, once you understand how and where drowning happens, there are things you can do to prevent it.
- Empty the paddling pool out after use and turn it over.
- Securely cover hot tubs after every use.
- Turn a pond into a sandpit, or fence it in or cover it while your children are little.
- Be alert to ponds, pools or hot tubs in neighbours’ gardens or when visiting other places.
Easter and beyond
In the run-up to Easter and beyond, mini eggs are always lining the shelves. But did you know they’re the perfect size and shape to completely block a small child’s airway and choke them? Or that their hard shell can make it difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques?
That’s why they aren’t recommended for small children. So, please stay safe and choose another treat for your little one this Easter. Larger, hollow eggs are much safer.
