Safety for young children

Children and danger

Young children do not understand danger. In a risky situation they can’t think ahead about what might happen or what to do. Teaching them about danger is important but it is not enough to keep them safe. Adult supervision is always best.

You can help by:

• talking about safety with anyone who cares for your child (grandparents, carers, babysitters)
• keeping emergency phone numbers easy to find
• learning basic first aid and resuscitation– consider attending a child-specific first aid or CPR course which can be accessed through Red Cross, St John Ambulance or your local council
• keeping a first aid kit in your home and car. These things are especially important if you live far from medical services.

Teaching about safety

Start teaching children about safety from an early age. Most children can follow simple safety rules from about age 2, but don’t rely on them to act safely all the time. As children grow, their understanding of and response to risks changes. It’s important to review safety routines as children get older, seasons change or after a move.

Children learn best when you:

• agree as a family what you will do and say about safety – it is important children get consistent messages
• model safe behaviour – they will copy you
• talk with them about what you are doing and why, in ways they will understand
• repeat safety rules often, in simple words
• give them the chance to safely explore, venture and have fun. They will gain new skills and confidence in their abilities.

Remember, being hurt or injured does not teach a young child not to do the same thing again. They haven’t as yet learned about ‘cause and effect’.

Keeping children safe

Falls

Falls are the main cause of injury in children.

Keep children safe by:

• staying close on beds, couches, change tables and playground equipment
• using harnesses for highchairs and prams – five-point harnesses are safest
• teaching your toddler how to climb up and down safely, eg on chairs, couches, playground equipment, trees
• avoiding bunk beds for children under 9 years
• using gates at the top and bottom of stairs
• locking doors and windows in multi storey and high-rise homes or near balconies, particularly where flyscreens are not child resistant
• Make sure there are no objects close to balconies they could climb up on
• installing child-resistant flyscreens on windows to prevent falls
• keeping furniture stable and padding sharp corners. Make sure furniture can’t fall on children or be pulled over, eg TVs, bookcases.

Driveway safety

Children are often hurt or killed in driveways because vehicles can move quietly and drivers have blind spots. Children are often not seen when out of sight.

• Always know where children are before moving a vehicle. Adults should hold young children close so they can’t run into danger.
• Keep children away from driveways – use barriers if needed.
• Place children in the vehicle with you if you can’t be sure of their safety.
• Do not rely only on reversing cameras – there are ‘blind spaces’ and it can be hard to see small children.
• Homes that have a door leading from the home to the garage should always be locked or the handle moved up out of reach to restrict access.

To prevent driveway accidents, always check young children are safe before moving a vehicle.

Traffic safety

• Use child‑resistant fences and gates so young children can’t get near traffic.
• Always hold young children’s hands near roads.
• Young children may be able to repeat rules about crossing roads, but they don’t really understand, no matter how many times you tell them.

Car safety

• Make sure children are in a properly fitted and approved restraint that is suitable for the child’s age and size on every trip.
• Always stop the car when you need to attend to your child in the back seat. Don’t turn around to do this.
• Never use your mobile phone while driving.
• Make sure there is nothing loose on the dashboard, parcel shelf or floor. Safely secure heavy items in the back of a hatchback or station wagon. These items can cause harm in an accident.

Never leave babies and children alone in cars. They can:

• become seriously ill when temperatures in cars increase quickly
• get bored and explore the car’s knobs and buttons which can lead to dangers
• become distressed or try to struggle free from seatbelts and get injured
• be in danger of someone trying to steal the car with them in it.

Never leave children (or pets) alone in a car. Cars get very hot very quickly, even in cooler weather.

Drowning

Children can drown in only a few centimetres of water. It can happen quietly and as quickly as 20 seconds.

• Never leave children alone near water. Actively supervise them in the bath, swimming pools (including paddle and inflatable pools), at the beach, near creeks, rivers and dams. Don’t move away even for a short time or become distracted, eg by mobile phones.
• Make sure children can’t get to buckets and other containers holding water. Keep a tight-fitting lid on nappy buckets (used for soiled nappies) and place out of reach. The water and chemicals both pose a risk to young children.
• Pool fences must have a self‑closing, self‑latching gate that meet Australian standards. These should be checked regularly to ensure it remains in good working order. There should be nothing near the fence that a child could climb up on. Contact your local council for fencing regulations.
• Babies and toddlers should always be actively supervised within arm’s reach when they’re in or around water.
• Keep water for animals away from babies and children.

It is important to teach your child to swim but it will not prevent drowning. Adult supervision is critical. Learn resuscitation – the first few minutes in an emergency can make the difference between life and death.

Scalds and burns

• Hot drinks are the most common cause of burns to young children. Never have a hot drink while holding your child.
• Keep hot items back from table edges. Use non-slip placemats instead of tablecloths.
• Dress children in low fire-risk clothing.
• Ensure electric cords of kettles, jugs and other appliances don’t hang over the side of benches. Be careful of the dangling cord while ironing.
• Set tap water to max 50ºC – recommended bath water temperature is 37ºC. A couple of degrees lower for newborn babies is recommended.
• Run cold water into the bath first, then the hot. Swish it around so there are no hot spots. Bath thermometers are recommended to check the temperature before placing the child in the bath.
• Keep children away from hot cooking. Turn pot handles inwards, away from front of stove.
• Supervise children around stoves, BBQs, fires and heaters – use fire guards.
• Have a fire blanket and extinguisher available in the home.

If a child has been scalded or burned put the area under cool running water for 20 minutes. Seek medical advice.

Poisoning

• Most poisonings are due to medications. Other poisons include household and garden products, cosmetics, alcohol, cigarettes, vapes and nicotine replacement therapies.
• Keep all poisons locked away, eg products used for cleaning, gardening and automotive, such as fuel, fertilisers.
• Don’t leave handbags where children can get into them, including visitors’ bags – there may be medications, hand sanitisers or other poisons.
• Never refer to medicines as ‘lollies’.
• Keep button batteries away from children. They can cause serious injury if swallowed. Seek urgent medical help if you think a child may have swallowed a button battery.
• Keep poisons in their original, labelled containers, never in food or drink containers.

If it’s not an emergency requiring an ambulance, call the Poisons Information Centre 131 126 if you think a child has swallowed something. Have the poison container handy.

Choking and suffocating

• Make sure there are no small objects such as coins or pen tops lying around.
• Children can choke on hard foods such as raw carrot, apple or nuts. Give them cooked or grated vegetables. Sit toddlers down to eat and supervise them.
• Don’t force your child to eat anything they don’t want.
• Tie a knot in the middle of empty plastic bags so your child can’t pull them over their head.
• Replace dummies before they are worn.
• Some old or antique cots and highchairs are not safe for young children. Use a cot that meets Australian standards.

Ensure blinds and cords are secured up high (at least 1600mm above the floor). They are a strangling risk, especially if children can reach them from their cot.

Toys and play

• Check toys and play equipment regularly for sharp edges, splinters and loose parts.
• The surface under climbing frames and swings should be soft and impact absorbing.
• Toys for young children should not have small, loose parts that can be broken off and swallowed. Keep older children’s toys with small pieces and small batteries away from toddlers.
• Baby walkers often cause injuries and should not be used.
• Make sure manufactures instructions are always followed.

Electrocution

Have a circuit breaker installed in your fuse box or switchboard. It will switch off the 0power if there is an electrical fault.

• Put covers over power points to stop toddlers poking things into them.
• Be careful of electrical appliances near water – it is easy to get electrocuted.
• Use only wall mounted or ceiling mounted heaters in bathrooms. Install wall mounted heaters up high.
• Do not use electric blankets with young child or those still bedwetting.

Pets

Having a pet can help children learn to be responsible and caring. It is important to choose the right pet for your family and always separate or supervise young children around pets.

• Young children are at risk from dog attacks. Most attacks are by dogs that children know.
• Keep children away from dogs that are feeding, sleeping, unwell or have pups. Any dog can bite or attack a child.

Farm safety

Farms are both a home and a workplace and there are dangers for children, eg heavy machinery, tools, vehicles, water, silos, wells, troughs, poisons, firearms.

• Make sure children are always supervised on the farm. There are many drowning hazards that can present on a farm. Remove or secure ladders on tanks so children can’t get into them. Cover wells and troughs with lids or mesh.
• Provide a fenced area for young children to play, away from hazards.
• Lock chemicals away.
• Supervise children around farm animals and working dogs.
• Provide age-appropriate bikes and safety gear – quad bikes are not suitable for children under 16 years as a passenger or driver. Don’t let children ride in the back of a Ute or in tractors.
• Always ensure children are travelling in appropriate child car restraints when in farm vehicles.

Sun protection

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun easily burns a child’s sensitive skin. When the UV level is 3 or above, protect your child’s skin by making sure they:

• are in the shade whenever possible
• wear cool, loose clothing that covers as much skin as possible
• wear a hat that shades their face, back of the neck, eyes and ears
• use SPF50+ sunscreen (current recommendation for children & adults)
• use sunglasses if practical to protect their eyes.

Passive smoking

• Make your home and car smoke and vape-free. Avoid smoking or vaping around children.
• It is illegal in South Australia to smoke or vape in a car with a child under 16 years.

Smoking or vaping around children harms their health. Children are more likely to smoke or vape if they see you doing it.

Violence and abuse

Keeping children safe also includes protecting them from harm in relationships and environments. Children can be harmed by family violence, abuse, or neglect which can be severe and sometimes fatal. Violence and abuse can happen in any family and may include physical harm, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or exposure to family violence.

Children who live with violence or abuse can be affected in many ways. This may include changes in their behaviour, emotions, learning, sleep or health. Some children may not talk about what is happening because they feel scared, confused, ashamed or worried about getting someone into trouble.

If things are feeling unsafe at home, support is available. Talking to a professional can help keep you and your child stay safe. You can call 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT) to discuss your concerns. If you are worried about a child’s safety, in an emergency call Police on 000. You can also contact the Child Abuse Report Line (131 478) for advice or to make a report.