 News
9th June 2008
Parents not acting on instincts to prevent child accidents new survey
reveals
A survey by the Child Accident Prevention Trust of over 1,000 parents
and grandparents of under fives - to mark the launch of Child Safety Week
(Monday 23 to Sunday 29 June) - reveals that whilst most parents have
a good understanding about how to prevent accidents and keep their children
safe, this is often not being acted upon.
- Although 90 per cent of parents and grandparents recognise that hot
drinks are a danger to small children, half of those caring for children
under five don't realise that a cup of tea or coffee can still scald
a baby 15 minutes after it's been made 1. (Fact: Over 500 under fives
are rushed to casualty every week because of burns and scalds. Hot drinks
are the number one cause 2)
- Although 86 per cent of those surveyed know that everyday painkillers
are a danger for children, over a quarter of those caring for under
fives admit to keeping them in a handbag, where children can potentially
find them. (Fact: Around 20 children are admitted to hospital every
day because they are thought to have swallowed something poisonous -
and under fives are at greatest risk 3)
- 87 per cent of parents and grandparents believe it's dangerous not
to have safety gates on the stairs. But one in four of those caring
for a crawling baby or toddler don't have a safety gate on their stairs.
(Fact: Almost 800 under fives are rushed to casualty every week after
falling down stairs or steps at home 4)
- Over a quarter of parents and grandparents don't have restrictive
opening devices on large windows. But 86 per cent know that open windows
upstairs pose a real risk to young children. (Fact: Almost 2,000 under
fives are rushed to casualty every year after falling from buildings
5. Last year, seven under fives died this way 6)
Children's minister Kevin Brennan says: "The first step for all parents
is to look at the home from a child's viewpoint to identify potential
hazards and then make small changes to make it safer. Our campaign will
give parents more information on how to do that and how to access good
home safety schemes in their area. So my message is look at your home
and "think kid" to keep your children safe."
Child Safety Week raises awareness about serious child accidents and
provides simple, practical advice to help parents and carers keep children
safe - without being over protective.
CAPT are providing a free Child Safety Pack, available from today
which includes a booklet, a poster, and Fireman Sam stickers.
You can get your free pack in three different ways;
- go to Join
our mailing list and complete the on-line form
- call the CAPT orderline on 09065 151 436 (24-hour answerphone - calls
cost £1.50 per minute from BT landlines; calls from mobiles and some
other networks may be higher)
- send an A4 stamped addressed envelope (66p) to Child Safety Week Resource
Pack, Child Accident Prevention Trust, 22-26 Farringdon Lane, London
EC1R 3AJ
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