Hi Everyone,

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year and to thank the community for working with Kidsafe NSW to highlight some very important child safety messages.

In this issue we have included information about:

• Checking the safety of Christmas toys
• Making sure the backyard pool is safe, and
• A warning about the dangers of hot cars

The Kidsafe office will close for the Christmas break from Monday 25 December 2017 until Monday 8 January 2018.  We look forward to visits resuming from school groups, vocational education providers, community agencies and mother’s groups.

Lastly, I would like to thank the wonderful staff at Kidsafe NSW and the highly supportive NSW Council for all the effort and expertise that they offer Kidsafe both at the state and national level.  THANK YOU!

Warm Regards,

Christine Erskine

Executive Officer

The good news, according to NSW Fair Trading, is that toys sold today are much safer than they were a decade ago!

However, NSW Fair Trading has asked parents be cautious when purchasing toys this Christmas after finding there are a number of items on the market that are potentially  hazardous.

According to NSW Fair Trading:

Toys with small parts are a particular worry. Anything smaller than a ping pong ball or an Australian 20 cent coin could choke a child under 3.

See which toys failed Fair Trading's safety inspection this year - download  the Christmas product safety survey 2017

You can check for choking hazards by making a DIY safety tool called ‘Choke Check’

Visit Product Safety Australia for a great booklet called ‘Keeping Baby Safe’ which includes information about toys.

Follow these tips when selecting toys for babies and children:

• Look for washable, non-breakable toys for babies
• Check there are no small parts that can be swallowed by children under 3
• Examine the toy to check if it contains a button battery that can be easily accessed by a child
• Read labeling on new toys to check they are suitable for a child’s age
• Be sure, if buying or receiving a projectile toy, it is the one that has soft, one-piece darts or non-removable suction caps
• Check for ventilation before buying tents, masks, or helmets
• Take off and throw away all the wrapping and packaging. This includes all plastic bags and sharp plastic covers on the package.

For other information on toys and safe play visit:

http://www.kidsafensw.org

Cancer Council NSW recommends these tips to keep your family safe in the sun:

• Apply SPF30+, water-resistant sunscreen regularly throughout the day
• Cover as much skin as possible
• Wear an appropriate hat. Wide brimmed, bucket style or legionnaire hats are good at protecting the child’s face and neck            
• Play in well shaded areas or play undercover on excessively hot days. Avoid play during the hottest times of the day (between 11am – 3pm)
• Teach children to always wear a hat and sunscreen

REMEMBER

• SLIP – clothing to cover arms and legs
• SLOP – on sunscreen
• SLAP – on the right hat
• SEEK – shade from the sun
• SLIDE – on sunglasses

Image and content source:  Cancer Council NSW

If you see a child locked inside an unattended vehicle, look around for parents or carers, call triple zero if the parents can’t be found or if the child is in distress, wait for emergency services or try to safely remove the child if you are concerned about their condition.

To help illustrate how hot a car can get in the Australian summer, celebrity chef Matt Moran uses a very unconventional oven for his old family recipe for a slow-cooked lamb. See what Matt Moran brings to the table with his unconventional oven.

• Click here to view the video titled ‘The Unconventional Oven by Matt Moran’
• Click here to view the ‘Kids in Cars’ brochure

For relevant laws in each state visit Raising Children Network

Source: The Unconventional Oven

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

Kidsafe NSW is a not-for-profit charitable organisation. We rely on NSW Government grants, project funding, sponsorship and donations to deliver quality programs and resources to the community.

It is with this generous support that Kidsafe NSW is able to provide community education and injury prevention programs in the area of playground safety, road safety, home safety, and water safety.  It also allows us to produce newsletters, contribute to research and advocate for child safety.

If you or your organisation is interested in supporting Kidsafe NSW, please click here to donate.

We greatly appreciate your support!