Children do not have the mental ability and physical skills to operate a quad bike safely and Kidsafe NSW would like to remind parents to consider safer, alternative outdoor activities for their children. Activities like bike riding and horse riding are great fun for kids over the holidays! Check out our  ‘Kids on wheels’ fact sheet and ‘Kids on farms’ brochure for some tips on how to keep children safe when riding on wheels or when playing on farms.

There are also number of other safety precautions that parents and carers can take in ensuring children are safe around quad bikes. Visit Farmsafe for more information.

The gas stoves were found to overheat easily and could potentially explode which can cause severe and fatal injuries. Up to 31 models of portable butane gas cookers, including certain models of dual burners, have been permanently suspended from sale. You can view the full list of suspended models here: List of suspended portable butane gas cookers.

Portable butane gas stoves are highly popular devices, particularly during the camping and caravanning season, as they are cheap to buy and easy to use. The advice to consumers is to stop using these stoves and to dispose of any used or stored products at a nearby waste and recycling depot (check out the page here at Household Chemical CleanOut  for the next clean up service near you). Families who have recently purchased one are advised to return them to their retailer with complete proof of purchase and request for a full refund.

For further enquiries, you can contact the NSW Fair Trading Centre directly on 13 32 20 or read their FAQ on portable gas cookers here NSW Fair Trading.

New laws mandating safety labelling requirements for inflatable pools were introduced in March 2014 and families are advised to be aware of these changes. Under the new law, all portable swimming pools and its packaging must display one of two permanent warning signs that include the image at top right:

For portable pools with depth of under 30cm the warning label must state:

• Children have drowned in portable swimming pools.
• Ensure active adult supervision at all times
• Do not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool- keep them within arms' reach.
• Empty and store safely after use

For portable pools with the capacity of being filled up to 30cm (an average ruler) or more the warning label must state the following:

• Children have drowned in portable swimming pools.
• Ensure active adult supervision at all times
• Do not leave children unsupervised in or around the pool- keep them within arms' reach.
• Pool fencing laws apply to this pool. Consult your local government authority for fencing requirements.

Retailers of portable swimming pools will be closely monitored by the NSW Department of Fair Trading to ensure all portable pools being sold, reflect correct safety and warming labels. However, parents and carers should also check before purchase that the inflatable products comply with the new labeling standard.

It is also important to review the fencing requirements for swimming pools during this period. You can view the requirements here NSW Fair Trading. You can view The Children’s Hospital at Westmead campaign ‘Kids Can Drown Without a Sound’ or read more about what precautions to take at Royal Life Saving.

Wait, what’s ISOFIX?

ISOFIX is the European system for child restraints. ISOFIX child restraints have been widely recognised for its ease of installation. It works by latching two attachments pre-built into the restraint onto pre-installed anchors at the base of a vehicle’s rear seat.  However, different to the European standard, families who opt for an ISOFIX child restraint in Australia must also secure the restraint via a top tether strap to ensure optimal safety.

But are ISOFIX restraints safer than current child restraints?

Child restraints currently on the Australian market are very safe to use due to Australia’s stringent testing regimes. The introduction of ISOFIX child restraints in Australia simply provides parents another way of installing child restraints into their vehicles. However, parents should note that ISOFIX compatible child restraints purchased overseas are not legal for use in Australia - only child restraints that have been tested to comply with Australian and New Zealand standards are legal to use in Australia and some of these restraints are already on the Australian market.

If you are unsure about which child restraint is suitable for your child, you can check childcarseats.com.au for more information. Kidsafe NSW also encourages parents to have their child restraints installed by an approved fitter to ensure it has been fitted correctly. Visit the Road Safety page at  Kidsafe NSW for a list of Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) approved fitters in your area.

You can visit the Fire & Rescue NSW page for more safety information.

As the small beads look appealing in colour and shape, children naturally want to put them in their mouths.  When young children ingest them, the water beads expand and cause intestinal obstruction which needs to be surgically removed. The water beads are commonly used for decorative purposes in vases and centre pieces so it is important that parents and carers keep these products well away from children.

The ACCC are working to implement standards to address these safety concerns. However, families can follow a few simple steps to prevent these beads from becoming a choking hazard to their children.

More information on the risks of water beads is available on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.

But why are children more vulnerable to risks?

In a fully confined car, airflow is restricted due to an increase in temperature and humidity in the car. As the temperature increases, young children (who are naturally more sensitive to heat than older children or adults) begin to develop heat stress and dehydration, which can quickly escalate to heat stroke and other serious health risks. When the child becomes distressed, they could also be at risk of strangulation as they try to get out of their restraint. All this can occur within just 5 minutes of closing the car. On a hot summer day, this happens at an even faster rate!

So what can parents and carers do? You can purchase a metal sign (pictured at right) from our website kidsafensw.org or download a copy of  ‘Kids in Cars’ from the Kidsafe NSW Road Safety page.  

Kidsafe NSW also stock other child safety products such as finger safes which have been in popular demand. To purchase any of our products, simply contact us on 9845 0890 or visit our safety products orders page, by clicking here.