A Parents Guide to

Homes

2

A Parents Guide to Kidsafe Homes

is a publication of the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (Kidsafe).

Kidsafe would like to acknowledge the BHP Community Trust for their support in the original development of A Parents Guide to Kidsafe Homes.

This booklet has been developed on the basis of analysis of child injury and the experience of relevant professionals. These are guidelines, not regulations, and they do not override state regulations, national standards or scheme policies (where they exist). © Copyright 1994 CHILD ACCIDENT PREVENTION FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA This booklet was adapted from a booklet: Written by Lyndall Horton-James Illustrated and Designed by David Pearson Publication of Kidsafe Australia Publishing Pty Ltd First Edition 1994 Second Edition 1998 Third Edition 2000 Fourth Edition 2007 ISBN 0 949630 32 2

3

Is your home Areas to Consider Page

1. Why make your home Kidsafe? 4

2. How Accidents can be prevented 5

3. Falls 6

4. Drowning 8

5. Burns and Scalds 10

6. Choking 13

7. Poisoning 14

8. Toys 16

9. Dog Bites 17

10. Outside the Home 18

11. On the Farm 20

12. Electrocution 22

13. Finger Jams 23

14. A word about older children 24

15. Visiting 25

16. What if you Rent? 26

17. What else can you do? 26

18. Home Safety Checklist 27

19. Further Information 30

20. Emergency Contacts 31

?

4

Location of Injuries Children Under 15 years

Homes are very special places. At home we feel comfortable and safe. But for children our homes are just not safe enough. Each year in Australia about 280 children die as the result of injury1. Many thousands more suffer needlessly. Injuries are the biggest health problem our children face. It mightn’t be in the news as often, but its more common and deadlier than any disease or even child abuse. On average 5000 children a day need medical attention, 170 are admitted to hospital and more than one child dies - all as a result of injuries. And its our youngest children who are most at risk. In fact, half the children injured are younger than five years old. More than half of these injuries happen at home. The good news is that you can protect children from harm. There are some simple steps you can take to make your home a safer place for children.

Why make your home Kidsafe?

1 Henley G, Kreisfeld K & Harrison JE. 2007. Injury deaths, Australia 2003-04. Injury Research and statis-tics series no. 31. AIHW cat no INJCAT89. Adelaide: AIHW (Table A2.1).

5

Accidents don’t just happen out of the blue. They are caused by hazards. A hazard can be anything that has the potential to cause an injury. So how do you make your home Kidsafe?

STEP 1 - SPOT THE HAZARDS The first step in preventing accidents is to be able to spot the hazards. This booklet will help you identify the hazards in your home.

STEP 2 - DECIDE HOW TO DEAL WITH THE HAZARD This step depends on the hazard you are treating. You will have to make a decision about what is the best way to separate the hazard and the children. Your decision may depend on whether you can make physical changes to your home. Each section of this booklet has hints about different ways of dealing with hazards to help you decide what to do. • As a rule, it is best to remove the hazard • The next best solution is to guard against the hazard. • After this, you can use personal safety gear. • As a last resort you can rely on watching the child within

grabbing distance. Never depend on telling the child not to do something. The younger the child, the more difficult this is for them. Ensure you combine any barriers you put in place with Adult Supervision and Education. STEP 3 - MAKE THE CHANGES Once you have decided how to deal with the hazard, do it straight away. Children are not protected until they are separated from the hazard. You will feel more relaxed and they will play more safely when the hazards have been isolated.

How Accidents can be prevented

6

Falls are the most common cause of injuries to children. The most common injuries from falls are head injuries and fractures. These don’t have to be a feature of growing up. Safety Steps to Prevent Falls: Nursery Equipment Use a full body harness with prams,

strollers and high chairs.

Be aware that babies can roll off

changing tables. Have everything you need to use close by when changing the baby. Always keep one hand on the baby.

Kidsafe advises against the use of baby

walkers. These are especially dangerous around hazards such as fire places and stairs.

Bunk Beds If you need a bunk bed buy one built

to the Australian Standard. Make sure bunk beds have guard

rails and a fixed ladder. Children under 9 should not sleep in

top bunks.

Falls

7

General Steps and stairs should be well lit. Children should be able to

reach light switches or else use nightlights

Use corner protectors on benches, coffee tables and other sharp cornered furniture

Avoid highly polished floors

Use rug grips to avoid slipping

Make sure floor coverings are in good condition

Handy Hint:

Falls and trips can be potentially serious near glass. Consider installing safety glass if this is not already in place in high risk areas like doors and low windows.

Use gate barriers to keep young children away from steps, stairs and balcony rails

8

Drowning is the number one killer of children aged one to five. Around 50 children drown in Australia each year2. Most toddlers drown in pools in their own home or a pool owned by friends. If you have a swimming pool you need a barrier that separates the pool from the house and the rest of the backyard. Barriers should meet Australian Standards AS1926 Guide to Swimming Pool Safety. For example never leave climbable items against the fence or prop barriers open. For further information on what is required in your state contact your local council. Safety Steps to Prevent Drowning: Always supervise children near water.

Drowning

2 Henley G, Kreisfeld K & Harrison JE. 2007. Injury deaths, Australia 2003-04. Injury Research and statis-tics series no. 31. AIHW cat no INJCAT89. Adelaide: AIHW (Table A2.6).

9

Handy Hint:

Remember that floatation aids are not lifesaving devices. Stay with children when swimming in the pool. Learn how to give resuscitation or take a refresher course. In an emergency, take the child to the phone and call the ambulance. Directions will be given to you over the phone. When visiting, ask about any drowning hazards. Many children have drowned at friends homes because their parents didn’t know there was a pool, spa or pond on the property.

Indoors: At bath time, take babies and young children with you if you must

answer the phone or leave the room.

Ensure nappy buckets have a tight fitting lid and are stored out of reach.

Outdoors: Outdoor spas need to be

fenced the same as swimming pools.

Empty paddling pools immediately after use.

Cover post holes or trenches during building.

After heavy rain, check your yard and empty any water that collects in containers.

Ensure indoor spas have a lockable door and are emptied immediately after use.

Cover ponds with a fixed grill

10

Burns, smoke and scalds caused the death of around 20 children in Australia each year3. Children aged under five are more at risk. About three quarters of these deaths were caused by house fires. Scalds are the commonest type of burn injuries. Young children can be scalded very quickly. These injuries often happen when an adult is present, so you need to be alert. Hot water and hot drinks cause these injuries. Safety Steps to Prevent Burns: Kitchen: Make sure your microwave oven is out of children’s reach. Turn it

off at the power point if it is low. Keep microwaved food and

liquids out of reach until cool enough to use.

Only boil enough water for your

tea or coffee and empty the rest. Hot water scalds for up to 30 minutes after it has boiled.

Have a fire extinguisher and a

fire blanket in the kitchen, or use a large pan lid to help smother small fires.

Use stove guards and cordless

kettles to avoid children pulling hot liquids down on themselves.

Make sure free standing stoves

are firmly attached to the floor or wall.

Burns & Scalds

3 Henley G, Kreisfeld K & Harrison JE. 2007. Injury deaths, Australia 2003-04. Injury Research and statis-tics series no. 31. AIHW cat no INJCAT89. Adelaide: AIHW (Table A2.6).

11

Bathroom: Control your bathroom hot water delivery to a maximum 50°C.

Ask your plumber for advice. Always watch children in the bath to make sure they don’t turn

on the hot water. Child resistant tap covers are useful to prevent this and so are mixing valves.

Fill the bath with cold

water first, add the hot water and then a little more cold water to cool the tap. Put the child in last.

General: Keep hot irons away from

children. Put them up high to cool after use.

Keep matches and

cigarette lighters out of reach of young children.

Don’t use petrol etc. to

start fires or barbecues. Use heat beads.

Always watch children

near barbecues and open fires and dress them in low fire-risk clothes.

Handy Hint:

Install smoke alarms in your home. Check with your local fire authority for recommendations on placement . These will warn you early that there is a fire, and give you time to get out safely. Develop a fire escape plan with your family. Rehearse having to get out of your home. Make a game of it for children. Keep a torch by your bed. Teach children to “STOP, DROP, ROLL” if their clothes catch fire, and “GET DOWN LOW AND GO” in case of a house fire.

12

Bedroom: Dress children in low fire risk clothing. This is close fitting and

made of less flammable material. Be aware that cotton is highly flammable. Check nightwear for low fire risk labels.

Dining & Living: Install a guard around fires and heaters.

Keep hot drinks away from small children.

Don’t drink these with a child on your lap. Use place mats instead of table cloths.

Handy Hint:

If your child is burned or scalded cool the burn or scald immediately in or under cool running water for 10-20 mins. Remove any clothing at once if you can. Clothes hold in heat and can cause a deeper burn or hide other burned areas. Keep the child warm with a clean blanket, and seek medical advice. Never use ice, oil, butter, soy sauce or ointments. These can damage the skin further.

13

Hard foods like peanuts, bones, raw carrot and apple are the main cause of choking in young children. While babies are at the stage of putting everything in their mouths, all small objects need to be kept out of reach. This is very tiring for parents but its only for a short time. As a rule of thumb, anything smaller than a ping pong ball or that fits into a 35mm film canister is a choking hazard. Coins and button batteries are particular problems. Safety Steps to Prevent Choking: Feeding: Insist that children always sit down quietly to eat.

Grate apples and carrots for young children to eat

Remove bones from young children’s food

Never feed a distressed child. Toys: Select age appropriate toys - check

labelling

Buy toys made by “known” makers. Check for strength and parts which could come loose.

Check toys regularly for parts which are becoming loose. The stitching of soft toys can be inhaled.

Polystyrene beads in bean bags and some toys can be inhaled.

Choking

Handy Hint:

If your young child does choke, encourage them to relax as they may be able to dislodge the object by coughing. If coughing does not remove blockage, Call 000 for an ambulance. Bend child well forward. Give up to five sharp blows with the heal of one hand in the middle of the back between their shoulder blades. Check if obstruction has been relieved after each back blow. For the latest recommendations visit www.stjohn.org.au

14

We use and keep many chemicals in our homes that are harmful to children. Young children are very vulnerable to poisonings. Poisoning is one of the leading causes of injury to children less than 5 years of age with about 40 children a week are admitted to hospital in Australia because of poisoning4. The Poisons Information Centres around Australia deal with hundreds of calls each day. Most of these calls are for children aged three and under. Common poisons are medicines, cleaning products, fertilisers and pesticides for the garden, chemicals and cosmetics.

Safety Steps to Prevent Poisoning:

Poisoning

Install child-resistant catches on cupboards where you store poisonous products. They can be installed quite simply and don’t interfere with your normal use of the cupboards.

Get rid of unnecessary

poisons. Clean out anything which you are not regularly using. This includes medicines. Contact your local pharmacy for advice.

Lock away all poisons when not in use. When using them, close the container immediately and place up high as a temporary safeguard.

4 Berry JG & Harrison JE 2007. Hospital separations due to injury and poisoning, Australia 2003–04. Injury research and statistics series no. 30. AIHW cat. no. INJCAT 88. Adelaide: AIHW (Table 2.7.2).

15

Know what poisons you have. Check the containers if you’re not sure whether they’re poisonous.

Keep poisons in their original

containers. Never transfer a poison into another container.

Never call medicines lollies.

Remember your headache pills and vitamins can be dangerous to children. Read all labels carefully.

Buy enough oven cleaner for

a single use and throw the rest away.

Choose safer products. Look

for products in re-sealable child-resistant containers.

Use a child resistant medicine cupboard in either the bathroom

or your bedroom. Medicines such as sleeping tablets should not be left on bedside tables or in drawers.

Handy Hint:

Put the POISON INFORMATION NUMBER on your phone: 13 11 26. Help is available 24 hours a day Australia wide. If you think a child may have swallowed a poison, take the container and child with you to the phone and call the Poisons Information Centre. They will tell you what to do. It helps if you can tell them what the substance is and how much has been taken. Children have been badly burnt by swallowing a small amount of the sludge that sometimes appears inside dishwashing machine doors after use. If you only unload the machine while the child is sleeping, you remove the risk of this happening

16

Toys are fun, and important for children’s development. But badly made or inappropriate toys can result in tears—or worse. Safety Steps to Prevent Toy Injuries: Select age-appropriate toys

Arrange places where toys can be used safely around your home—away from vehicles outside and people traffic inside. Put coffee tables and other low furniture elsewhere.

Choose toys that are sturdy and made by a “known” maker. Make sure there are no sharp edges, brittle plastic, or parts which could snap off or be pulled off.

Keep toys belonging to older kids away from young children. They may trap small fingers or cause choking. Encourage the older ones to play with their own toys when the little kids are asleep.

Store toys for play down low so the children can reach them easily without having to climb.

Toys labelled “not suitable for children under 3” means there are small parts which could be swallowed (see page 13).

Handy Hint:

Avoid crushed fingers by using a toy box without a hinged lid or with a slow closer. Drill airholes in large toy boxes in case children hide in them.

Toys

Check the conditions of toys as you tidy up. Throw out any you think are no longer safe.

Make it a house rule that children don’t run with sharp objects like sticks and scissors

17

Each day two or three children are taken to hospital because of dog bites. About 75% of these children are bitten by a dog belonging to their family or friends. While all children under 12 years of age are at risk, it is children under five who have the highest rate of injury. Serious injuries are usually to the face and head, and some children are killed. It is common for young children to be bitten while doing child-like, inquisitive things—playing wit the dogs food, chasing the dog, or other things that the child thinks are play but to the dog are teasing. Safety Steps to Prevent Dog Bites: Remember any dog can and may bite. Keep babies and young children away from your dog, especially

at feeding times. Ask friends and family to keep their dogs away from the

children. Always watch within grabbing distance if a dog is near children.

Long time dog owners need to be aware of this when a new baby is added to the family.

Train your dog to obey commands. Take your dog to obedience school. The dog should obey “come”, “sit” and “stay” commands from all family members.

Dogs trained as guard dogs or work dogs should never mix with children.

Buy the right dog for your family. Ask the RSPCA or a vet about the dog best suited to your needs.

Handy Hint:

Don’t expect children or your dog to always obey you! Wait until children reach school age before buying a dog.

Dog Bites

18

Like many places in our homes, outdoor areas are usually designed to meet adults’ needs. They aren’t often made with children in mind, yet children will spend more time there than adults do. Safety Steps to Prevent Injuries in the Outdoors: Have a safe play areas for children separated from hazards

like cars, driveways and pools. Make sure play equipment is

stable, has no jutting edges and has at least 200mm of chip bark or similar material under it to cushion falls. It should be placed away from paths and solid garden edgings.

Cut off sharp branches that

hang at the child’s eye level. Remove tripping hazards.

Trampolines are fun but also the

cause of many injuries. If you must have one, consider a pit trampoline or a trampoline with an enclosure. Look for trampolines made to AS4989. Only allow one child at a time, and no ‘somersaults’!

Outside the Home

19

Check that barbeques are stable. If moveable, put these away when not in use.

Keep garages and

sheds locked. Store tools, chemicals, climbing hazards, petrol and other fuels here.

Insist that children wear hats, shoes and sunscreen when

outside.

Handy Hint:

Always check around your car before driving off. Hold regular clean-ups to remove junk. Clean up broken glass immediately.

20

Children on farms face special risks. A quarter of the tractor deaths in Australia have been children. Most of these were aged under 5. Older children are at risk too, especially when they help with farm work. If you live on a farm, you will need to think about the particular hazards on your property, as these vary with the type of farming you do. Safety Steps to Prevent Injuries on the Farm: Provide a safe playing space around the house, preferably

fenced off from farming activities, dams and livestock.

Keep young children well

away from tractors, farm machinery and livestock.

Store tools, chemicals

and all equipment including heavy tyres in locked sheds and workshops.

Remove old machinery and

woodpiles from where children play.

Store guns, bolts and

ammunition separately in locked areas.

On the Farm

21

Make silos inaccessible by removing the lower steps. Kids, ATVs and farm bikes don’t mix! Many burn and crush

injuries result when bikes overturn on young riders. Insist helmets are worn for horse and bicycle riding.

Handy Hint:

Know where children are. Dress them in bright colours so they are easy to see. Let workers know when children are on the farm. Ensure everyone checks around machinery before starting up and moving off.

22

Electricity makes our lives easier, but it is also dangerous. In the past five years, around 30 children have died from electrocution. Most of these children were aged under five. About 80% of children rushed to hospital with electrical injuries are injured at home. Safety Steps to Prevent Electrocution: Use electrical safety switches. These turn the power off when

there is a fault before people are injured. They are installed by an electrician to your switchboard.

Unplug electrical appliances as

you finish with them and put them out of reach and out of sight. This is essential with hair dryers and shavers.

Don’t use electric floor heaters in

the bathroom. Only use the wall mounted type, placed up high.

Use plug-in covers to stop

children poking things into the power points.

Don’t use electric blankets with

children younger than two, or those still bedwetting.

Remember that electricity, water

and children are a dangerous mix.

Electrocution

23 Handy Hint:

Let older children know how easily little children are injured this way. Ask them to check the door is clear before they close it.

Finger Jam injuries at home usually involve children aged under 3. Most often their fingers are crushed or amputated in the hinge side of doors when they are closed or slam shut. Safety Steps to Prevent Finger Jams: Be aware of the increased risk of slamming doors when both

the front and back doors are open. Use slow, self-closing

springs on front and back doors, or use catches to keep them open.

Know where children are

to avoid closing doors on their fingers.

Spec ia l s t r i ps a re

available to guard the hinge side of doors. These are very useful for doors which you need to close, such as bathroom and bedroom doors.

Use chocks, wedges or

catches to keep internal doors from slamming shut.

Nursery furniture and

strollers can also trap little fingers.

Finger Jams

24

We often expect older children to act as child minders for us. Certainly caring for younger kids is something most older children like to do, but we need to remember that they are still children themselves and not little adults. That applies to other chores we might ask them to do too. Safety Steps with older children: Remember, they still need to be supervised by an adult.

Be realistic about what a twelve year old can safely do. Don’t

expect them to be responsible in dangerous situations, like bathing the baby or using a lawn mower.

Give older children training in safety. Teach them about the

dangers around the home and show them how to deal with these correctly.

Be realistic about what work young teenagers can safely do.

Train them carefully and supervise their work. Make sure they wear protective clothing, eye and ear protection where needed.

Insist that they use safety gear like helmets for bike, horse,

in-line skate and skateboard riding. Have them wear tough clothing. In-line skate and skateboard riders need wrist guards, elbow and knee pads.

Praise sensible behaviour.

Handy Hint:

For older children, injuries often happen during sport. Ask your child’s coach about their safety policies.

A Word about older children

25

Visiting friends and family should be a time for relaxation and fun for everyone. Unfortunately their homes may not be as Kidsafe as you would like. If no children live in these homes, its likely that there will be many hazards within easy reach of your child. Safety Steps to Prevent Injuries when Visiting: Watch them carefully when visiting

Check for ceiling fans

Check whether medicines are within reach in bedrooms or

bathrooms Ask about any drowning hazards. Many children have drowned

at friends homes because their parents didn’t know there was a pool, spa or pond on the property

Always ask that a dog is shut away from where the children are

playing.

Handy Hint:

When others visit you, find a spot up high where their handbags can be kept. Handbags can be a ‘magnet’ for young children, but often contain hazards such as medicines or lighters.

Visiting

26

Safety Steps to make your home as safe as possible: Install as many movable safety products like door barriers as

you can. Ask the landlord to pay for a few important changes, like child

resistant catches on kitchen and laundry cupboards. Also ask about installing electrical safety switches and smoke

alarms as these protect everyone and the property. In the future, look for a home that has few hazards. Take the

Home Safety Checklist along to help you check out the property. Ask in advance what child safety changes the landlord is prepared to make.

Talk to your friends and family about this booklet and child safety.

Visit the Kidsafe centre in your state.

Give safety products as gifts to friends and relatives.

Join KIDSAFE and help support our work. Ring Kidsafe in your

state or territory for details on becoming a member. Learn first aid. The first few minutes can make a difference

between long term damage and quick recovery. Look in the Yellow pages under First Aid for organisation running courses.

What if you rent?

What else can I do?

27

Consider making changes to items that received a NO response for a safer home! If you are still unsure crawl around your home on your

hands and knees to view everything as your child would!

HOME ENVIRONMENT Is there an electrical safety switch to prevent electric shock?

Is the hot water delivery temperature for your bathroom at a maximum of 50°C?

Do you have smoke alarms located between the sleeping areas and the rest of the house?

Are safety plugs fitted in unused power points?

Have you removed any potentially poisonous houseplants?

Are electrical appliances, plugs and cords in good condition?

Have long cords been bound with twist ties or extra cord hidden?

Are heaters and fans guarded, and candles not left unattended?

Are there barriers or gates on steps, stairs and changes in floor levels to prevent falls?

Are railings free of footholds that children could climb?

Is all top heavy furniture such as bookcases, tall-boy drawers, televisions and TV cabinets secured to the wall to prevent them from tipping over if climbed on?

Is your swimming pool or spa fully enclosed by a safety fence with a self-closing, self latching gate?

Is the ground around the house and gutters kept clear of material that burns?

Do you have a home fire escape plan?

BATHROOM Does the bath have non-slip mats or handrails?

Are medicines and sharp objects, (eg razors), kept in a locked cupboard out of reach of children?

Are hair dryers and electric razors unplugged when not in use?

Are medicines in a lockable cupboard? ”Lock Up and Away”

Is there a childproof lock on toilet or bathroom door?

Is the bath water temperature always “tested” before putting the child in (start with cold, then hot, then finish with cold?

Are the shampoos, soaps and cosmetics out of reach of children?

YES/NO ________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

Home Safety Checklist

28

KITCHEN Do your electrical appliances have short cords that do not dangle over the bench?

Is the kettle out of children’s reach?

Is the microwave positioned out of reach of children?

Do you use the back hot plates and turn pot handles around to prevent pots being pulled from the hot plates?

Are lighters, matches, knives and other dangerous objects stored in a place where a child cannot reach them?

Are plastic bags out of reach or tied in the middle?

Do you have locks on cupboard doors and pantries?

Is the high chair stable?

Do you have a fire blanket or fire extinguisher ready to use in the event of a fire?

Is there a barrier across the doorway to prevent your child’s access to the kitchen?

LAUNDRY Are cleaners, bleaches and detergents stored out of reach in a child resistant cupboard ”Locked Up and Away”?

Is the nappy bucket used with a lid on and kept out of reach of children?

Are troughs and washing machines empty when not in use?

Do appliances with lids switch off when machine is opened?

Do you clean the lint filter of your dryer before every use?

Is the floor kept dry and non-slippery?

CHILD’S BEDROOM Is the cot away from the window?

Are curtain cords secured out of reach (not too near the cot)?

Are the cot rails 50-85 mm apart?

Is everything I need close to the changing table?

Are the toys kept where children can reach them without climbing?

Is the furniture free of sharp corners?

Are the toys suitable for the child’s age (eg have strings and ribbons been cut from toys)?

Are electrical appliances and cords out of reach of young children?

Do you check your electric blankets for wear prior to fitting them to your bed?

Is all top heavy furniture such as bookcases and tall-boy drawers, secured to the wall to prevent them from tipping over if climbed on?

YES/NO

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

29

YES/NO ________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

________

LIVING AREAS Are sharp edges on tables and furniture covered?

Are blind and curtain cords out of reach?

Are glass doors protected by safety film, colourful stickers or made of safety glass?

Is alcohol stored in a child resistant cupboard?

Are toys stored in an area to allow free passage after use?

Are rugs and mats secured to prevent a fall (eg non-slip backing)?

Are chairs and tables difficult to overturn?

Are cigarettes, ashtrays, matches and lighters out of reach?

Are tablemats used instead of tablecloths?

Are hot drinks placed well out of reach of child?

Are there safety guards attached to the wall around fire places, fuel stoves and heaters?

Are heaters kept away from curtains, furniture or other flammable material?

Do your children only wear clothing that is made of low fire risk material or designed to reduce fire risk?

GARDEN SHED/OUTDOORS Are pesticides, paints, chemicals and other poisons stored in tightly covered, labelled, original containers out of reach of children (“Lock Up and Away”)?

Are all garden tools locked away?

Is the garden free of poisonous plants?

Can the shed or garage be locked?

Is the area free of drowning hazards? Eg ponds, pet water buckets

Is the play area separate from the driveway?

Is the play equipment stable and in good condition? (regular maintenance checks required)

Is there a soft surface under play equipment to cushion falls?

Are pathways clear to prevent tripping?

Are branches pruned above eye level to avoid eye injury?

Are garden statues and birdbaths cemented in to prevent a crushing hazard?

Are electrical equipment, power points and light switches protected from the weather?

Are all Flammable liquids stored safely (as per their directions)?

30

Contact Kidsafe (Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia) office in your State or Territory: Kidsafe ACT Kidsafe SOUTH AUSTRALIA Building 2, Pearce Centre Women\'s & Children's Hospital Collett Place, 72 King William Rd Pearce ACT 2607 North Adelaide SA 5006 Telephone: (02) 6290 2244 Telephone: (08) 8161 6318 Fax: (02) 6290 2241 Fax: (08) 8161 6162 Email: act@kidsafe.com.au Email: sa@kidsafe.com.au Kidsafe NEW SOUTH WALES Kidsafe TASMANIA Kidsafe Centre C/- Abbotsfield Primary School C/- The Children's Hospital at Westmead Abbotsfield Road Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145 Claremont TAS 7170 Telephone: (02) 9845 0890 Telephone: (03) 6249-1933 Fax: (02) 9845 0895 Email: nsw@kidsafe.com.au Email: tas@kidsafe.com.au Kidsafe HUNTER VALLEY Kidsafe VICTORIA Shop 6 Hilltop Plaza PO Box 1210 Pacific Highway Arcade Camberwell, VIC 3124 Charlestown NSW 2290 Telephone: (02) 4942 4488 Telephone: (03) 9836 2040 Fax: (02) 4942 4499 Fax: (03) 9836 2011 Email: hunter@kidsafe.com.au Email: victoria@kidsafe.com.au Kidsafe NORTHERN TERRITORY Kidsafe WESTERN AUSTRALIA Shop 20, Rapid Creek Shopping Centre, Godfrey House Trower Road, C/- Princess Margaret Hospital Rapid Creek NT 0810 Thomas Street & Roberts Rd Subiaco WA 6008 Telephone: (08) 8985 1085 Telephone: (08) 9340 8509 Fax: (08) 8985 1025 Fax: (08) 9340 8041 Email: nt@kidsafe.com.au Email: wa@kidsafe.com.au Kidsafe QUEENSLAND Kidsafe House, 50 Bramston Terrace, Herston Q 4029 Telephone: (07) 3854 1829 Fax: (07) 3252 7900 Email: qld@kidsafe.com.au

For more information

31

If you don’t already have a list of emergency phone numbers placed near your phone, take the time to fill this page in now and tape it in a prominent spot. In an emergency, precious time can be wasted looking up the right numbers and panic can set in. Preventing a tragedy is all about being prepared to handle things in advance. These few minutes you spend now could save a child’s life. It’s a good idea to learn first aid. Resuscitation is a skill every parent should have, and many groups have courses specifically designed for parents and carers. Look in the Yellow Pages under First Aid for organisations who run courses such as: St. John Ambulance www.ambulance.net.au Australian Red Cross www.redcross.org.au Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia www.royallifesaving.com.au

Emergency Numbers

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance: 000

Fire Brigade: 000

Police: 000

Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26

Family Doctor: Name ____________

Phone ____________

Children’s Hospital: ____________

Neighbour with Car: ____________

Phone ____________

32 ISBN 0-949630-41-1