DURING THE 12-month period between Apri: 1987 and
March 1988, 122 children age 14 and under were treated for

accidental injuries at Lions Gate Hospital.

Five children were treated for
accidental poisoning by drugs, 68
were treated for injuries sustained
due to accidental talls (most com-
monly five to nine ycar olds), three
children (two under four years of
age) ingested caustic materials such
as bleach and 22 were injured in
sporting activities. There were also
two drownings and one near
drowning, one case of suffocation
on food, 11 cases of children ac-

NORTH Shore Health Department
chief public health inspector Bill
Kimmett ...‘‘Kids learn through
experience.’’

cidentally being struck by an ob-
ject or a person, and one case of
ignition of clothing.

Thirty-one of the children
treated fell into the newborn to
four year old category, <1 were age
five to nine and 50 were age 10 to

Many children’s injuries occur in
the home and many are preven-
table. Taking the time to child-
proof a home goes a long way to
minimize risks and decrease the
load of energy wasted by parents
worrying about the well-being of
their children.

By MICHAEL BECKER
News Reporter

Child development specialists
recommend that during infancy,
parents take the whole responsibil-
ity of working to keep a child’s
environment safe. During the tod-
dler to preschool period, parents
should expect children to begin to
discriminate between what is right
and what is wrong. Parents should
still take the majority of responsi-
bility for safety.

During elementary school age,
Parents can impart an understan-
ding of why some things are more
or less dangerous. At this stage the
child should begin to exercise his
or her own safcguards.

From adolescence to adulthood,
a parent’s ability to provide pro-
tection is diminished. The basic
skills cf evaluating safety and
danger reside, for the most part,
with the child.

Said North Shore Health
Department chief public health in-
spector Bill Kimmeit: ‘You don’t
want to curb the kids’ instincts.
Kids learn through experience. But
en the other hand, parents should
Bot be negligent.”’

While not intended as an all-
inclusive listing, the following
check-list includes some common
considerations to be made when
child-proofing a home:

* Check for frayed wires and
cords. Electrical wiring should be
kept out of reach.

*Block access to electrical outlets
not in use with safety plugs.
eFurniture should be stable.
Check to see if it can be easily tip-

ped.

*Keep cords hanging from vene-
tian blinds and drapes out of reach
to avoid strangulation.

Protect glass shelves or table
tops from breakage. Babies and

“Ne

Spring Dart Leagu

The Pemberton Station Pub dart league

spring season starts scon. The $15.00 sign up j
fee includes snacks, shirts and more! Don't §
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135 Pemberton Ave.,
North 264-3558

39 - Sunday, January 15, 1989 — North Shore News

Boss
shouldn't
confide
PAGE 40

/-

NEWS photo Bike Wekefictd

NORTH VANCOUVER mother Sandra Done places an electric ovdlet plug into an easily reachable electric
outlet while daughter Stephanie looks on. Installing the plugs is 2n important safety move in the home.

toddiers bang things on table tops.
eDeternmine which of your house
plants are poisonous and remove.
Install an anti-skid device in the
bathtub.

*Pull easily reachable range
knobs from a gas stove.

Poisons should be kept behind
locked doors or high on shelves.
Keep the Poison Control Centre
telephone number (682-5050) by
the phone. Keep syrup of Ipecac
close at hand to induce vomiting in
the case of the ingestion of non-
caustic solutions.

*Install smoke detectors in your
home. Purchase a fire
extinguisher.

eInstall safety gates at the top and
at the bottom of stairs.

| 75x85 including valance
85x85 including valance

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