Child saftey giuidlines

In South Africa every year 1 5000 children die as a result of accidents. Thousands more are injured and many more are left with permanent mental or physical disability

Don’t take the fun out of your children’s lives by being over protective, but always watch them carefully and help them learn from their mistakes. Small accidents are part of the learning process –what we must do is to try to prevent serious accidents.

Following are useful safety guidelines to follow, according to the age of your child.

0-6 months

At this age baby needs full-time care and protection. Baby’s ability to move, roll and grasp increase rapidly.

Falls

• Babies roll and grasp sooner than you think, so never leave them alone on beds or tables-not even for a second.
• Keep cot sides up at all times

Burns

• Check temperature of bath water to prevent scalds.
• Do not handle hot liquids while holding the baby (even cups of tea or coffee)
• Keep candles and kerosene stoves well away from baby.

Drowning

• Never leave baby alone in a bath-even for a second.
• Know how to give rescue –breathing

Choking and suffocation

• Pillows are not necessary for babies
• Cot bars should be spaced so that baby cannot get his head through.
• Try not to use ribbons and cords on sleepwear.
• Remove bobs before baby sleeps

General

• Keep small objects and plastic bags out of baby’s reach.
• Toys should be strong, without sharp edges or removable parts.
• Please don’t have baby on your lap in the front seat of the car. A bolt-on safety seat or carry cot in the back are the safest ways of transporting baby.

6-12 MONTHS

Baby is now crawling and exploring. Most things go into the mouth. She pulls herself up and everything else down.

Falls

• Use safety gates at top and bottom of stairways.
• Be careful of low, unbarred windows and balconies

Burns

Use guards in front of heaters and open fires.
Keep hot liquids and foods well out of baby’s reach
Put old water in bath before hot.
Use table mats instead of table cloths.

Drowning

• Keep nappy buckets covered and out of baby’s reach.
• All pools, ponds and dams should be fenced.
• Never let baby out of sight if near a swimming pools.
• Use non-slip mats in baths and don’t leave baby alone
• Know how to give rescue-breathing.

Choking and suffocation

• Do not give baby food that he cannot chew.
• Keep small objects out of reach, e.g. peanuts, marbles, etc

1-2 years

Children are now more mobile and inquisitive than parents realise. The child often has no fear or sense of danger

Falls

• Keep guards on windows, balconies.
• Use child locks on car doors or keep doors locked.
• Children love climbing and need it to help develop co-ordination-but do keep an eye on them.

Burns

• Keep pot handles turned in.
• Keep matches out of reach.
• Electric cords-particularly of kettles-should be kept short and out of reach.

Drowning

• Prevent drowning by teaching children to swim.
• Even if they can swim always supervise near water.
• Farm dams and ponds are still hazards.
• Know how to give rescue-breathing.

Choking and suffocation

See 6-12 months

• Children should not play with plastic bags or ropes.

General

• Keep all poisonous substances locked away-including alcohol.
• Don’t tell children that medicines are sweets.
• Never leave young children alone in a car-not even for a minute.
• When leaving home make sure little ones are not playing near the car.