According to Channel NewsAsia, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital sees about 50 to 70 injury cases daily. This number usually goes higher during festive seasons such as the Lunar New Year.
About 10 – 12% of the nearly 400 children who seek treatment everyday at the Children’s Emergency at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital do so for childhood injuries. Childhood injuries are largely preventable if caregivers are more aware of child safety issues, and exercise caution in the day-to-day care of their children.
Aside from homes, playgrounds are also included among the places where accidents happen. Health officials are urging parents to be extra careful especially during the holiday seasons.
Here are few tips to help keep your homes safe for your kids:
Keep away any electrical or telephone cords…
that could choke or strangle children. Also ensure that all wires are not obstructing the walkways by taping them securely to the sides of the room. Always unplug electrical items when not in use.
Give them toys…
that are well-made and age-appropriate. Toys that are for older siblings should be out of reach of the younger kids. Avoid toys that can be choking hazards. It’s a good idea to do a quick check to see if the toy has been recalled or banned, and why so. Read the safety instructions and follow the instructions for use.
Wipe up spills immediately…
and keep the floor dry to prevent slips and falls. Vacuum up broken glass right away and then use a wet paper towel to clean up small slivers of the shattered pieces of glass on the floor.
Remove pots and plants…
out of your kid’s reach. Check your garden for poisonous plants. Store gardening tools out of reach of young children, and cover sharp edges. Unplug electrical tools when not in use.
Install gates…
at the bottom of stairs. You can also use a safety gate in the doorway of an older child’s room to protect the baby from the older child’s toys.
Use window guards or netting…
to prevent your kids from climbing over windows. Regular window screens will not protect your child. If you have sash windows, get locks that will only allow the window to open to a safe height. Do also hang curtains out of crawling reach so that they cannot be pulled down.
Keep knives and any sharp objects…
in a drawer or cupboard out of your child’s reach. Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen and near any places that can easily catch fire. Put matches and lighters in places where your kids cannot find them.
Bunk beds are not recommended…
and many models have been recalled. Only children over six years of age should be allowed to sleep in a bunk bed. Make sure that there are top railings along the length of both sides of the top bed
Secure all medicines, vitamins, cleaning chemicals…
and other poisonous materials in locked cabinets. Do not leave them unattended during use. This may unintentionally expose your children to danger. Educate your children and help them understand the dangers of medicines and chemicals and the importance of proper use and handling.
Install night lights…
in the bedroom, bathroom or along hallways to light up the walkway at night.
Any other methods that you came up with to child-proof your house? Share with us in the comments below!