We all like to think that our children are safe at home, however more accidents happen in the home than anywhere else, and accidents are the second biggest killer of children in the UK. Yet many of these accidents can be prevented by simple precautions. Accident prevention isn't about wrapping children up in cotton wool, but to make a safer environment for babies and children.

Falls

Falls sometimes happen because children develop quickly and they suddenly get on the move. Always stay one step ahead and be prepared for baby being on the move before it actually happens, eg put stair gates in place long before baby is crawling.
Remember once baby can crawl he can climb. Baby can use furniture to climb and if the furniture is near a window then he could fall out the window. Use window locks or catches which prevent the window from opening more than a few centimetres and if possible move the furniture away from the window.
Always change baby's nappy on the floor as it only takes a second for baby to fall. Even very tiny babies can wriggle and fall off a high surface.
When baby is in his cot he may use his toys to stand on to climb out and fall, so remove any larger toys to prevent accidents.
When baby is in his cot or highchair, use a five point harness to prevent him from falling out.

Scalds and Burns

As baby's skin is thinner than an adult's, their skin is more likely to be damaged than ours. Even a hot drink made up to 15 minutes before can still scald a young child's skin.
Hot drinks are the most common cause of scalds in young children, so if you're having a hot drink, put baby down before you pick it up and never pass a hot drink over a child's head. Also be careful where you put your cup down whilst you're drinking. A coffee table is the perfect height for a toddler to grab the cup from.
Use a kettle with a short lead and always keep it pushed to the back of the kitchen top, where your child can't reach it.
Hair straighteners get very hot. Turn them off immediately after use and ensure they are left to cool in place that is out of children's reach.
Whenever possible don't allow young children in the kitchen when you're cooking and try to use the back rings with pan handles turned towards the back of the cooker.
Whether you're running a bath for yourself or your children, put the cold water in first and then the hot. This way if your child jumps in whilst the bath is running he won't get scalded. It only takes 5 seconds for a toddler to suffer 3rd degree burns from hot tap water.
Fit fireguards. Some parents say they have taught their child not to go near the fire, but they can still fall onto it and be badly scalded.

Fires

Fires are one of the biggest killers of children in the home and thick black smoke from a fire can fill your home in minutes. The smoke can kill a child in less than a minute.
If you don't have a smoke alarm and a fire starts at night the smoke will kill before you are even aware that there is a fire. A smoke alarm will wake you and give you and your children chance to get out.
You will need a smoke alarm upstairs and downstairs. Make sure you check that it is working every week.
Never remove the battery if it goes off whilst you're cooking as you may forget to put it back in. If it regularly goes of whilst you're cooking, move the alarm further way from the kitchen.
Ask your local fire brigade for a free home safety check.
Have an escape plan, so that all the family knows what to do in the event of a fire.
Chip pans are still a common cause of fires so if you've still got one, it's worth investing in a deep fat fryer.

Strangulation and choking

Babies' and young children's throats are narrower than ours and they are learning how to chew, swallow and breathe in the right order and therefore are more likely to choke than us. It's important that they are never left alone when eating as choking can be silent and you wouldn't be aware that anything was wrong.
Check your home regularly for small objects which children can choke on. This is more important if you have older children who may leave small toys around.
Get into the habit of tying up curtain and blind cords as children have been strangled by them. Ensure cots and highchairs are not near them.
Plastic bags and drawstring bags can also be dangerous, so keep them away from babies and young children.

Poisoning

Children can be poisoned by many everyday household products. Keep all potentially dangerous items in high cupboard with child locks on. Toddlers will even have a go at drinking the toilet cleaner if left by the toilet, so move this as well. And don't forget garden chemicals which may just be stored on the floor in the shed - put them on high shelf or preferably locked away somewhere.
Medicines are the main cause of poisoning in children. You may keep most of your medicines away from children, but don't forget about the tablets you may keep in your handbag or on the bedside cabinet.
Be extra vigilant in other peoples houses as there may be poisonous items in easy reach of your child.

For further information on keeping your child safe visit

Child Safety Week Information for parents