Here - Health Promotion Agency

Illness and accidents
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Do you have a fire guard fixed
to the wall round any kind of
open fire (coal, gas or electric)
or a hot stove?
Do you always use the back rings
on the cooker and turn pan
handles away from the front of a
cooker? A flat work surface on
either side of the cooker will
prevent your child reaching pan
handles at the side of the cooker.
Or you could fit a cooker hob guard.
Do you use a playpen, cot or high
chair (with restraints) to keep your
child safe while you cook?
Do you keep your child away
when you’re drinking or carrying
hot drinks and put mugs and
cups, coffee jugs and teapots out
of reach?
Have you put your tablecloths
away? A child pulling at the
edges can bring a hot drink or
teapot down.
Do you always run the cold tap
first in the bath and test the
temperature before your child
gets in? Be especially careful
once your child is big enough to
get into the bath without help
and can play with the taps.
Have you turned down the hot
water thermostat to 54ºC or
130ºF to avoid scalds?
Do you always cover hot-water
bottles to prevent burns and
remove them from the bed
before your child gets in?
Danger – falls
❑ Do you always put bouncing
chairs on the floor rather than a
table or worktop?
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Do you have a properly fixed
stair gate or barrier, preferably
at both the top and bottom of
your stairs?
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Baby walkers are dangerous.
They tip babies down stairs and
on to fires and radiators. Don’t
tick this box until you have
thrown yours out.
Have you checked the rails round
your landing and balconies? Could
your child fall through, crawl
under, climb over? Horizontal
railings are especially dangerous.
Do you have safety catches or locks
on your upstairs windows to stop
your child falling out? Are you sure
you won’t be locked or nailed in if
there is a fire?
Danger – cuts
❑ Low-level glass in doors and
windows is dangerous, especially
once your child is on the move.
Have you boarded it up, fitted
safety film, or safety glass?
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Do you keep all sharp things
somewhere safe (away from
children)?
Do you make sure your children
never walk around holding
anything made of glass or with
anything like a pencil or lollipop
stick in their mouths?
Danger – poisoning
❑ Have you locked all alcohol and
medicines away or stored them
high up, out of sight and where
the child can’t climb?
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Are your medicines in childresistant
containers? In other
people’s houses watch out for
dangers like tablets in drawers
and handbags.
If you use recreational or other
illegal drugs, treat them like any
other medicines or chemicals and
keep them locked away and out
of reach of children.
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