The long summer holidays are nearly here and while this means more fun for families, extra time at home for children can often lead to an increase in accidents and often visits to hospital. 160,000 children visit hospital each year after being injured in the garden, yard or patio or from falls down outdoor steps. ‘Make a change, Make a Difference’ is the theme for this year’s Child Safety week (23-29 June) and Barbara Allison, Home Safety Officer suggests that parents, grand parents and carers take this opportunity to make some simple changes at home to prevent serious accidents this summer. The five main causes of home injuries to children are – falls, burns and scalds, choking, suffocation and drowning. Follow the tips below to keep your kids safe this summer -

Keep paths and steps clean and well maintained.

Don’t leave garden tools lying about.

Make sure all trampolines have a safety net and padding and remember the rule – one child at a time.

Keep children well away from lit barbeques or bonfires – they remain hot for a long time after cooking is finished.

Store matches and lighters out of reach.

Avoid using tablecloths on picnic tables – toddlers can easily reach for hot drinks.

Food is the most common cause of choking in young children – always supervise children when they are eating.

Pull chords on curtains and blinds can cause choking – be extra careful in holiday homes or caravans.

Supervise all children when swimming – never let children swim alone.

Tip out paddling pools when not in use.

Keep garden ponds securely fenced off.

Keep garden sheds locked where chemicals may be stored at all times.

Store chemicals in their original containers – don’t transfer to drinks bottles.

Teach your children never to eat berries or plants from the garden.