Spotted: Accidents waiting to happen – the ‘Fatal Five’

Whether relaxing with a cold one or hosting a dinner party – our “home sweet home” is our sanctuary of safety and security.

 

However, aside from car accidents – mishaps in the home cause more deaths each year than any other source.

Poisoning, fires, falls, choking and drowning make up the ‘Fatal Five’ home accidents to watch out for.

POISONING

Remember when your child thought chugging a bottle of grape cough syrup would be fun? Getting their stomach pumped afterward? Not so much.

Medicine, plants, cosmetics and household chemicals are the most common childhood poisons in the home.

Our Tips:

Keep chemicals and medicines out of reach or in a locked cabinet.
Label medicines and poisonous products, and use child-resistant containers.
Keep the local poison control center on speed dial.

FIRE

Nothing like some hot flames and loud beeping to jolt us from our sleep… Right?

Home fires are generally caused by using matches, cooking, smoking, electrical appliances, and heating equipment.

Our Tips:             

Don’t leave cigarettes or candles burning for hours unattended. Put them out when you’re done.
Keep matches, lighters and candles away from flammable objects.
Keep curtains and bedding away from heat sources.
Install smoke alarms on each level of your home.
Allow air space around your TV and electronics to prevent overheating.

FALLS

It’s summer time. That means children may be running … Or skidding into the house with toys and bathing suits on.

Here’s a few suggestions to keep them from saying “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

Our Tips:

Get rid of tripping hazards like throw rugs, electrical cords, toys and shoes.

Apply non-skid strips to your bathtubs and showers.
Clean up spills right away.
Install baby gates at the bottom of staircases.

CHOKING/SUFFOCATION

Though choking is often linked to food – kids can also choke on small toys, necklaces and phone cords.

Suffocation hazards like plastic bags, bedding and pillows are also things to keep in mind.

Our Tips

Keep plastic bags out of a child’s reach.

Keep balloons away from babies and toddlers who can swallow or choke on them.
Cut food for kids into small pieces.
Never place a baby face down on soft pillows or bedding. (They can’t raise their heads for air.)
Avoid large stuffed animals.

DROWNING

Water from a pool, bathtub or bucket is a delight for kids playing and learning to explore. However, kids can also drown silently in as little as 5 centimeters of water.

Our Tips:

Don’t leave buckets of water around the house when cleaning.

Empty plastic pools as soon as you’re done using them.
Take a childcare first aid class and get certified in CPR.
Watch children around toilets and washing machines.
Toilet locks can also be installed to keep toddlers from falling in.

Sources:

https://canadasafetycouncil.org/home-safety

http://www.lifesavingsociety.com/who%E2%80%99s-drowning.aspx