Today is National Kidsafe Day and remember child safety is no accident!

Did you know that most injuries to children are unintentional – often described as “accidents?”  Over 1000 children are hospitalised every week in Australia due to unintentional injuries and many more injured children visit their GP or other health professional.  In fact, 96% of injury hospital admissions are due to unintentional injuries. 

A new study by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in the U.S. reveals that some parents and carers may provide less active supervision around familiar backyard pools or holiday premises.  They may develop a false sense of security.

The NSW Study of Drowning and Near-Drowning in Children 0-16 showed that the majority of children who suffered a near-drowning in a backyard pool were swimming with the family when a short lapse in supervision occurred. 

If your child is under the age of five and in or near water, an adult, who knows how to swim, needs to be within arm’s reach at all time. 

If you are a pool owner follow these important instructions to keep children safe from drowning:

• Always close the pool gate
• Ensure the gate, fence and latch are in good working order
• Make sure trees, shrubs, BBQ’s, pot plants, toys, chairs and other climbable objects are not within a 90cm radius of the fence.

For more information go to Kidsafe NSW Water Safety

According to NSW law, the driver of a  bus that seats 12 or more people is not required to make sure any passengers, even children, are in a seat belt or child car seat. 

If the bus seats 12 or less people, including the driver, then children under 7 years old must be in an Australian Standard approved child car seat that is correct for their size and age.  This includes:

• Rearward-facing restraint for children 0-6 months
• Rearward or forward-facing restraint for children 6-12 months to 4 years
• Forward-facing restraint or booster seat fastened by a lap sash seatbelt for children 4 years to at least 7 years.

For more information visit Kids and Traffic

Image source:  Kids and Traffic

Poisoning is one of the leading causes of injury to children under five with about 33 children a week being admitted to hospital in Australia.

Removing unnecessary chemicals and offering a safe, healthier way to clean Aussie homes has been the driving force behind ENJO Australia for over 23 years. Together Kidsafe and ENJO will raise awareness about preventing poisonings in and around the home. 

Follow these tips to keep your children safe from products, chemicals and other poisons:

• Store cleaning products, chemicals, and other poisons in a high cupboard out of reach of children or in a cabinet with a safety latch.
• Use only original containers to store chemicals

Call Poisons Information Centre in case of emergency 13 11 26

For more information visit Kidsafe NSW Poisoning Prevention Fact Sheet

For more information about Enjo visit: www.kidsafe.com.au/sponsor.html or watch this short video

Button batteries are about the size of a 10 cent piece and can be found in many children’s toys, game, torches, musical greeting cards and calculators. 

Product Safety Australia estimates about 20 children per week in Australia go to hospital  due to  swallowing button batteries.  These tiny batteries can do a lot of damage to children. To get an idea of how much damage these can cause watch this powerful video by CHOICE.com.au.  *Caution: link contains graphic video* 

To keep children safe from the dangers of button batteries dispose of them safely. Do not put them in the rubbish or recycling bin but contact your local council or community recycling centre to find out where to take them for hazardous waste disposal. 

If you think your child has swallowed a button battery: 

• Call Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or go directly to the Emergency Department
• Do not let the child eat or drink anything or try to make them vomit. 

Talk to friends and family about the dangers of button batteries because child safety is no accident!

Source:  Choice.com; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Image source: Wikimedia.org

4 December 2017 training date available! Click here to enrol now!  

This course (Unit RSCICR301A: Provide information and advice on correct child car restraint use) is tailor made for those transporting children on a regular basis, including child care workers, family day care workers and intervention support staff.

This course forms part of the nationally recognised 52778WA Course in Type 1 child car restraint fitting.

Topics include:

•           Child car restraint use

•           Types of restraints and accessories

•           Legal requirements

•           Australian Standards

•           Anchorage points and attachments

•           Older and second-hand restraints

•           Practical hands-on training

Participants will be assessed in installing commonly used child car restraints.

Kidsafe NSW can provide in-house training for your organisation as part of your professional development program for staff.  If you would like to discuss training options please contact Kidsafe NSW on (02) 9845 0892 or email: Y%CD%96%A2%BA%9E%B7%94%89%C3%B0%9B%90q%D0%9E%A2%9F%ED%DCQ%92%B9%C5g%D7%DC%AA%85%D2%E1%88

For a complete list of product recalls including children’s clothing, furniture and toys go to ACCC Product Safety Australia

Image source: ACCC Product Safety Australia