Keeping Kids Safe at Christmas
Christmas is a great time of year with lots of celebration and fun but the holiday period also has it's challenges. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the festive season and keep your kids safe.
Statistics reveal that 75 percent of household injuries are incurred during the Christmas holiday season and those most at risk are childrem aged from 0 to 15 years. The causes of these injuries include:
- Swimming Pools. Accidental drownings are preventable. It is always good practice to regularly check the security of your pool fenciong and the opration of the safety gate mechanism. Make sure that pot plants and other items are not located next to the pool fence to prevent these being used as a "stepping stone" to climb over the fence. Proper adult supervision of chelildren in swimming pools is also a must.
- Bikes, scooters blades and other ride-on toys. If you are buying your kids ride-on toys for Christmas, make sure to buy the correct safety equipment at the same time. Remember to buy the safety helmet, wrist, knee and elbow protection guards etc as well. And make sure your kids wear "closed in " shoes to protect their toes and feet if they happen to all of their new bicycle.
- Accidental Poisoning. Chek to make sure that household poisons (including cleaning agents and swimming pool chemicals), medications etc are properly stored under lock and key or in an inaccessible location to keep them out of reach of young children.
- Driveway Accidents. Small children are always at the risk of low speed runovers but more so during the festive season with more visitores coming and going. When visitors are leaving, check to make sure children are safely out of harms way before starting the car.
- Fall Accidents. Place barriers or install safety gates on stairways and remove loose mats or rugs placed at stair access points. Don't place electricity extension leads in walkways. If you buy a trampoline for the kids, make sure it has a safety net and that kids are supervised on the trampoline.
- Choking accidents. Small toys or toy parts can easily be swallowed by small children. Check the recommended age ratings on toys to make sure that the toy is suitable for your child.
- Play Areas. Kids with a new bicycle or skateboard will probably find the back yard is too small or confining for their new toy. A visit to a nearby park or skatebowl may be necessary to meet the excitement demands for enjoying the new toy. parental supervision is also required to monitor safety and ensure that kids don't leave park areas to move to adjacent dangerous roadways.
Remember, parental supervision is an important part of child safety especially during the excitement of the Christmas season.
