CSI: Index Anti Social Behaviour Fear of Crime Home Safety Personal Safety Problem Neighbours Vehicles Domestic Abuse Child Safety Slips, Trips & Falls	Child safety Baby walkers Choking and drowning Poisoning Scalds and burns Email a problem you’d like us to answer Links Baby walkers Baby walkers – using a baby walker increase a baby’s range and therefore vulnerability to accidents. With increased height and speed your child will suddenly increase what they can reach and how fast they can move around. Research suggests around a third of babies using a walker will sustain injury. It is HIGHLY dangerous to use a baby walker anywhere near stairs, or in the kitchen, supervision is a must. Research also suggests that not only will a baby walker not increase a child’s development, it may actually hinder them. For the pros and cons of using one and for safety advice see: here A safer option would perhaps be the static versions that are now on the market: giving your baby the feeling of movement but kept safely still. Eg the “Walkaround Exerciser” or the “Baby Learn And Groove Activity Station”. Choking and drowning Children have smaller airways and teeth than adults which makes them more vulnerable to choking. Food - Children should not be given food whilst playing and must be supervised while they sit and eat. Food should be cut up small for them to eat easily. Hard sweets and nuts cause the most danger and should be avoided. Beware also of cereal toys. Toys - Children should not be given toys which are unsuitable for their age or they may present a choking hazard. Do not mix toys meant for older siblings. Gardens - Take care if you have a garden pond that you child is well supervised and prevented from getting too close. Other items - Other chocking hazards might be found in the reach of children, for example buttons, scraps etc found on the floor. What to do if you child is choking: Check to make sure the baby is not breathing. Watch to see if the baby's chest rises and falls. Listen for the sound of a breath, but don't spend more than 30 seconds listening and watching if you believe your baby is choking. If they are choking call 999 and they will help you remember what to do. Try to dislodge the blockage - Sit on a chair with the baby face down on your lap. Let her upper body hang down over your knees, and support her face and neck with one hand. Use the heel of your other hand to gently but firmly thump the child four times in the middle of her back, between the shoulder blades. Don't use as much force as you would to help an adult, but do remember that you're trying to dislodge the object blocking the baby's airway. If the child still has trouble breathing or is unresponsive for some other reason, gently shake her to see if she responds. Next you will need to Open the airway and check the pulse - Kneel at a right angle to the baby's chest. With one hand on her forehead and the other supporting the back of her neck, gently tilt her head back to open the airway. In some cases, this may be enough to help breathing resume. Check for signs of breathing by listening for the sound of inhaling and exhaling. Check the pulse on the side of her neck or on the inside of her elbow. If she's not breathing, if you feel no pulse, or if her lips are turning blue, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at once. To resuscitate a child you must compress the chest and gently blow - Locate the centre of your baby's breastbone by imagining a line between your baby's nipples. Find the middle of that line and measure about one finger's width below that point. Now position the third and fourth fingers of one hand on that spot, and depress the chest between ½ and 1 inch. Repeat five times quickly. With the baby's head still tilted, cover her nose and mouth with your mouth. Give her one gentle breath as if blowing out a candle. If she does not respond, try gently thumping the middle of her back again. Then, if she still is not breathing, repeat the cycle of compressing five times and breathing once approximately 20 times per minute. Count out loud to keep track. Continue until help arrives or your baby resumes breathing. Even if your baby seems to be fully recovered from the choking episode, take her to your doctor that day to check her over. Taken from babycentre.co.uk Poisoning Children under 5 are those most at risk of poisoning. Most cases involve perfume and aftershave, medicines, cleaning products, and alcohol and drugs. Some plants are also poisonous so check out precisely what is growing in your back garden. Make sure you store dangerous products out of sight and out of reach. Always keep chemicals in their original containers. Keep you floors as clear as possible of small items (eg buttons, batteries) Ensure safety caps are properly closed on medicines and chemicals Scalds and burns Children between the age of six months and two years are most at risk. Most commonly they involve hot drinks and electric kettles. Did you know a cup of tea or coffee can still scald 20 minutes after it was poured? This is because babies have thinner skin than adults. Top tips to prevent scalds and burns: Use a kettle with a short flex and DO NOT leave it overhanging where it can be reached. Keep pot handles away from reach and ideally keep children out of the kitchen altogether. Be aware the table clothes can be pulled and spill hot foods and liquids. Never pick up a child when you have a hot drink in your hand Use a bath thermometer or be very careful when making your child’s bath Always use a fireguard Never leave matches or lighters in where children can reach them Always leave an iron somewhere safe to cool down. Beware of cords being within a child’s reach.