General Home Safety

Below is a list of the most common home accidents experienced by children in the UK in order of the highest occurrence:-

1. Falls
2. Striking – (being struck or colliding with an object or person)
3. Other (details not listed)
4. Foreign body
5. Poisoning
6. Burns/scalds
7. Cuts
8. Bites/stings
9. Suffocation

 

Why do children have accidents?

Small stature:
Children cannot see hazards if they are above their eye level; for example a child could pull an overhanging kettle lead on the worktop. Houses and their appliances are designed for adults not children, and some of the every day household items and appliances  used by adults are  hazards to children.

Inquisitiveness:
Children are inquisitive and learn by exploring, poking, putting things in their mouths.

Bravado and horseplay:
Children are prone to peer pressure, particularly from friends, and take bigger risks at these times.  Boys tend to have more accidents than girls – and this can be evident even from the young age of 1-2 years.

Stress:
The more stresses at home, the increased risk of accidents.
If children are jealous, emotionally upset or sometimes even over-excited, accidents are more prone to happening.

Did you know?
From the age of eight a child will be able to start to relate a risk in one area to another, ie not touching a hot kettle in their own home can be related to not touching a hot kettle in their friend’s home.

From eleven and upwards most children will