Child Safety

We know it's impossible to protect our cherished ones from any form of danger and it becomes more difficult as children of primary school age are raring to dip their big toe in the water of life. As long they are aware of potential dangers we are able to give them some of their much-wanted freedom.

Safety at Home

By the very definition of the word, accidents are events that happen unexpectedly. They can happen in the home as easily as anywhere else. When your mind is buzzing with a task list of 101 things to do before 6 o'clock it is easy to overlook that ball left idly on the stairs or that steaming iron propped on the kitchen unit.
In a nutshell there are thousands of hazards in the home
But the consequences of this lapse in concentration can be disastrous. In a nutshell there are thousands of hazards in the home.

Safety on the Streets

Children need to be streetwise in more ways than one:

• The Department of Transport suggests that the best age to teach the green cross code is between 7 and 9.
• If they walk to school on their own, make sure they have identified the best places to walk and cross.

Useful contacts

Safe Kids Website- a resourceful website full of advice and tips on keeping your children safe.

Call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for medical advice.

ROSPA Website- RoSPA is actively involved in the promotion of safety and the prevention of accidents.

Personal Safety

The threat of a child being attacked by a stranger is perhaps the most alarming worry of all for any parent. And although statistics show that this threat is relatively small, we still need to prepare our children to manage their personal safety:

• Establish solid arrangements about getting to and from school. Your child must let you know his or her whereabouts at all times.
• Make sure they know what to do if they are lost. For example, tell them to go to the nearest shop or busy place and ask to use the phone to call you or a trusted friend or if need be, the police.
• Teach them to shout 'NO' and 'Call the Police'.
• If they are home alone, make sure they keep a chain on the door.
• Consider enrolling your child on a self-defence course to teach them helpful techniques.

What to do in an Emergency:

• Brief your child on how and when to dial 999. Tell them to call on a trusted neighbour or to phone a friend or family member. Make sure the relevant telephone numbers are easily located - such as on
  the side of the fridge.
• In case there is a fire, show your child escape routes and meeting points with the rest of the family. Remember to check your smoke alarms routinely.
• Keep and maintain a basic First Aid kit
• Buy your child a brightly coloured jacket to wear, so they are easily visible to drivers.
• Invest in a properly fitting cycle helmet and make sure your child wears it each time he or she drags the bike out.
• Encourage your child to take a cycling proficiency test at school. Before taking this, children should not cycle n traffic.
• Without exception, for your child's safety, always ensure that he or she is strapped into that car seat - it could save a life.
• From September 2006, new laws will dictate that all children up to the height of 135cm are secured in a car seat or booster cushion on all journeys in cars.

Water Safety

By now, our children have an awareness of water and may even be able to swim. But sometimes there is a danger in being over confident near the wet stuff, and boundaries need to be set. The unwritten rules of bravado dictate that unsupervised swimming in the sea or diving into rivers will appeal to any 10-year-old, but it also pushes the limits of safety. Make them aware that second to road accidents, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among the under 14's. So, teach them basic water safety. We've all seen the rules plastered across the walls of any public swimming pool - do not run, duck or push, or dive into shallow water.