The safety and well-being of our children is a parent’s primary concern. Whether they are in your presence or under the care of someone else. As our children keep on growing, they will develop certain skills such as crawling, walking, reaching for items, putting anything and everything into their mouth. As these curious little ones are learning these new skills, we should let them explore and create a safe space for them to do so.

Children of different age groups are at risks of certain injuries. These injuries include:

• Infants are more likely to sustain injuries from falls, choking, suffocation, motor vehicle crashes, drowning, and burns by hot liquids or surfaces.
• Toddlers and preschool children are more likely to suffer from drowning, motor vehicle collisions, fires and burns, and suffocation. Children in this age group lack the motor skills to maneuver and the cognitive skills necessary to recognize dangerous situations.
• The school-age child is more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors that lead to pedestrian injuries, bicycle/scooter/skating injuries, drowning. Motor vehicle occupant injury is the most significant mechanism of injury for children 5 through 19 years of age
• Adolescents also are at risk for poisonings, drowning, firearm injury, falls, burns, and intentional injury including misuse of prescription medication. 

Creating awareness among caregivers plays an important role in not only preventing but also reducing childhood injuries. In this article we shall name a few hazards and risks that we encounter.

Choking hazards and suffocation is common as mentioned. Coins, beads, seeds, small toys, batteries and plastic papers are items we may find in the house hold.  These items should be kept out of reach from children. Avoid buying small toys or toy parts for children under 3, discard used batteries and plastic bags immediately after use. Prescription drugs and household cleaning agents should be kept in well labelled containers and in locked cabinets. Remind visitors to keep their bags away from children especially if they have medication and other choking hazards.

At times we may find ourselves leaving a hot cup of tea or water on a table tops. Children can easily try to reach them by pulling a cup left at the edge or pull on the table cloth to access it. A bath basin may have hot water while preparing to give baby a bath. Avoid leaving children near these hot liquids and keep them out of reach. Also refrain from passing hot liquids over children.

Discourage children from playing in the kitchen or near open flames. The kitchen is a den of risky equipment such as sharp knives, hot pans and open flames or hot cooking surfaces. Store knives away after use, keep cooking pot handles away from the edge and most importantly children out of the kitchen.

Curious children are always trying to pock at sockets with pens or knives putting them at risk for electrocution. Electric sockets can be covered with socket covers or concealed by large furniture. Secure water dispensers that may drop on children and have a lockable option or keep off if dispensing hot water to avoid burns.

Swimming pools and unsecured water bodies are risks for drowning for both children who can and those who cannot swim. Children should also be supervised by an adult while swimming even if they have a floating device. Enrolling your child in a swimming class also reduces the risk of drowning and creates better awareness around pools.

Car seats are a good way to enhance safety when traveling with children. Have your children always seat at the back seat with their seat belt fastened. Car seats should be rear facing until at least 2 years of age and secured at the back seat. Refer to the car seat manuals and labels on the car seat for weight, height and age limits.  Children at the front seat in a car seat are at risk of injury if the front air bag deploys. Car booster seats are recommended once a child outgrows the forward facing car seat until the seat belt fits properly with the lap belt across their thigh (not stomach) and shoulder belt is across the center of the shoulder (not across face and off the shoulder). This usually occurs when children are between 9 and 12 years. Teach your children about road safety, crossing roads carefully and always with an adult, and to avoid playing near roads. Use of helmets when riding their bicycle, skates or scooter is encouraged.

Place babies on their back during sleep times. Even if baby spits up, they have a gag reflex that will prevent them from choking while asleep. Babies who sleep on their back are much less likely to die from SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomach or sides. Babies sleep surface should be firm, with a fitted sheet. Avoid blankets, pillows, bumper pads or stuffed toys in baby’s sleep area. Sleeping in the same room but in their own cot as baby especially before 6 months makes it easier to feed, comfort and monitor baby.