Simple steps at home can save children a lifetime of injury
According to the ACC more than 130,000 children were injured in their homes last year. These unintentional child injuries at home cause pain and suffering that sometimes have lifelong impacts on children and their families. Public health advisor Uenuku Kane, a Safekids Coalition leader, says the ACC is wise to be pushing for more action on in-home accidents. ?There are absolutely too many, even one is too many. ?In terms of fire safety the fire services do a pretty good job, but in deprived areas a lot of people find it too hard to fund money for a smoke alarm, or the batteries,? says Mr Kane. Working out of Hutt DHB offices, Mr Kane says safety in the home is linked directly to the affordability of safety features. He says a packet of batteries for a smoke alarm is a lower priority in poorer areas than paying the power bill or buying a Lotto power-ball ticket. ?The change of government doesn?t help, a lot of poor people are just not making the cut in the safety issue,? he says. For most people a lack of access to funds is the largest contributor to home injuries, he says. Mr Kane works directly with the DHB to find ways of providing injury prevention, and how best this can be done in the community. ?Currently I?m looking into child mortality and all the issues that lead to deaths, we need to look at how this can be prevented,? says Mr Kane. Research gathered by Safekids NZ shows that 70 percent of young children (birth to four years) are injured in their home or around private property. Safekids says looking at the environment your children are in is vital. [SUBS NOTE: side bar] Important tips to keep your kids safe in and around the home Take a child?s point of view. Get down on your elbows and knees. What do you see? Can they reach unsafe objects? Are their sharp edges their heads can hit? Secure heavy furniture. If colourful items are on top of book shelves, TVs and the likes, kids will climb them. Load knifes and sharp utensils pointed down in the dishwasher. This is a point of some of the most traumatic injuries. Store appliances and tools safely. Lock up heavy equipment and bladed equipment. Ride-on movers are not joy-ride toys. Use safety glass in windows, doors and furniture. Mark glass panels so they can be seen.
