Accidents

Do you know that accidents are the first cause of infant death in the first month of life?

Do you know that car accidents happen frequently, but perhaps you do not know that the majority of childhood accidents happen at home (home accidents). Home accidents include falls, drownings, burns, and poisoning incidents. There are measures you can take to avoid or reduce the risk of your child having accidents at home or in the car.  

What you should ask yourself:

• Is there a baby gate on the stairs?
• On the balcony, are there objects your child can climb onto?
• Are your baby’s bed rails high enough?
• Is there a stove guard in the kitchen?
• Are there safety covers on the electrical sockets?
• Are the cleaning products stored where your child cannot reach them?
• Are medicines and drugs stored where your child cannot reach them?
• Can your child reach the ironing board where you left the hot iron?
• Are knives and sharp tools stored where your child can reach them?
• Are there poisonous plants in your home?

Cosa puoi fare in casa:

1. If you have stairs at home, you should install a safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairway;
2. Make sure that the crib rails are high enough to prevent you child from leaning out. Make sure that the spacing between the rails is suitable;
3. You should install window locks in all the upstairs rooms;
4. Make sure you remove from the balcony all the objects that your child could climb onto;
5. Make sure that the railings on balconies and windows are sufficiently high and narrow;
6. Your home electrical system must be safe and conform to law. Make sure you have an residual-current device (also called “Salvavita”) installed at home;
7. Keep your child away from electrical cables and other plugged appliances;
8. You should not keep in your home and garden the following poisonous plants: rhododendron, oleander, lily of the valley, narcissus, dieffenbachia, cyclamen, anemone, hedera, mistletoe, philodendron, holly, genisteae, taxus, hydrangea;
9. Never leave your child alone in the kitchen;
10. Keep your child away from the gas stove when someone is cooking; remember that burns can also be caused by hot vapor;
11. Make sure you install safety guards in front of the lit fireplace or stove;
12. Set the water temperature to a maximum of 40°C;
13. Make sure you do not leave hot beverages or dishes on the edge of the table or anywhere your child could reach them;
14. Make sure that the handles of pots and pans are turned inward towards the wall. Make sure to use the flame burners that are closer to the wall;
15. Do not leave matches or lighters where your child can reach them;
16. Keep away from your child sharp objects, such as scissors, knives, blades, glassware, chinaware;
17. Make sure your child is not wearing necklaces, bracelets and neck chains during sleep;
18. Never leave your child alone on the changing table or on any other high table;
19. Keep away from your child (especially if under four years of age) any object less than 4 cm in diameter: if ingested, small objects can cause respiratory obstructions or choking;
20. Make sure you buy only safe toys with the CE mark;
21. Remember: small children can drown even in two centimeters of water, so they must never be left unattended in the bathtub or in a small basin, not even for a few minutes. – After using them, always empty the bathtub, the bidet, the basin, the bucket or any other container with water. Do not leave toys in the bathtub or in the swimming pool: in this way, your child will not be tempted to go in the water to get them;
22. If there are small children nearby, make sure you cover or remove all the dangerous sources of water inside and around your home, such as wells, ponds, ornamental lakes, as well as buckets and basins;
23. Chemical products for cleaning, medicines, insecticides must be stored where your child cannot reach them;
24. Never store substances such as cleaning products, diluents or plant fertilizers, in a different container from the original one, or inside containers used for food and beverages;
25. Make sure to buy medicines with a child-proof container or packaging; do not keep medicines in your bag; do not leave medicines on the nightstand, inside the drawers, or in the kitchen;
26. Keep cigarettes and alcohol out of your child’s reach.

Car safety measures to protect your child:

1.Use the baby car seat or child booster seat, even for short journeys;
2. Choose the car seat according to your child’s weight;
3. Do not put your child on the passenger front seat if the airbag on that side is enabled;
4. The safest place is the rear seat;
5. Child car seats or child booster seats must conform to safety regulations;
6. Never hold your child in your arms when travelling by car.

For questions or doubts, ask your pediatrician for advice.