Dr Sarah Brewer

Safety in the home and at play

Over half a million children under the age of 5 suffer an accident in the home every year. Many accidents can be avoided by simple safety precautions. Try looking around your home at your child's eye-level to spot hazards within his reach. ·

• Don't leave hot drinks within arms reach of the child
• Never leave your baby in a high chair without a safety harness
• Always use a guard in front of a fire, hot radiators and cookers
• Use baby gates to stop your toddler wandering onto stairs, out of doors or into the kitchen
• Keep bleach and other household cleaning agents locked out of reach in high cupboards
• Drugs and medicines should always be locked safely away
• Keep kettles and saucepan handles turned out of reach, use back burners where possible
• Take care not to leave hot mugs of tea or coffee within reach
• Fit special catches to keep little ones out of low cupboards, drawers, fridge and freezers
• Consider corner protectors to prevent injury if your child stumbles against sharp furniture edges
• Fit safety socket covers on electric power points in the child's bedroom and other areas where he plays
• Never leave a child unattended near running water, pools or in the bath · Cover glass doors, table tops, etc., with safety film
• Choose soft toys which meet British Safety Standards