Safety at home

Home is where children unwind, play and spend quality time with family. Accidents may happen, and minor scratches and bruises are inevitable, especially as children grow and discover new things. Safety at home is vital to ensure that serious accidents are avoided. Safety begins with supervision, yes, but children must also be taught what is safe and what is not.

Safety devices like smoke detectors, pool covers and security gates are all essential in a child-safe home. Baby-proofing sharp corners and securing areas that pose a fall risk are also important. As a parent or caregiver, CPR and first-aid training can also be extremely useful.

Safety measures you and your child can follow

• Always keep doors closed
  Closing the door behind you should be the first safety practice you implement at home. This will not only prevent attackers from entering the house, but it will also prevent the younger children from escaping.
• Burn safety
  Keep your toddler away from fire and hot surfaces to avoid burns. When your child is near something that can burn them, keep a close eye on them.
• Children must learn important contact information.
  You should make sure that your children are aware of where they can seek assistance in the event of an emergency. Make a list of emergency phone numbers that they can learn or keep on their person.
• Electrical safety
  Teach your child about how to handle cords and electrical sockets. This is imperative so that children do not shock themselves. The use of covers on electrical points can prevent a young crawling toddler from sticking their fingers into it
• Strangulation and suffocation prevention
  Make sure that choking hazards are well out of reach of small children. Older children should be taught not to put things in their mouths.
• Water safety
  Teach a child to be cautious around water, give them swimming lessons and always supervise them at the beach, pool or in the bath.