nus children’s reach.

. Child!
‘By-Teach. children. to replace, toys in’

lake hon

THIS IS the second of two
articles on preventing child-
related injuries, highlighting
some of the problem areas of
the home.

‘

uo . Toys

Toys bring delight, fun, and fearn-

-ing 'to children, but they can also be

a source of injury.

“@ Check that toys are in good

repair;and free of sharp edges,
pinch points, splinters, or. broken
* parts.’ :

Repair o7, discard broken toys
_. immediately So that scratches, cuts,
and scrapes are avoided.

@ Err.on the side of caution when
purchasing toys with small parts for
young children.

@ Avoid the possibility of choking
_ by supervising very carefully when
children are using small objects

such as crayons, marbles and small °

_ balls.

~BB-To prevent accidental strangula-
tion, ensure that young children do
“not have access to toys with strings

“or cords longer than 5” (15.cm).

@ Think about using festive
.$treamers rather than: balloons
“Which can break. and lodge i in-chil-:
‘dten’s throats. ;.,

‘8 Avoid’ toy. boxes, with lids:
_ because they can fall ‘and pinch a a.

baskets, plastic tubs, cupboards or?
helves to eliminate tripping and |
‘falling o over scattered items..

“Kitchens :

“Toddlers: lave: to pull out pots.
and: pans: from: “cupboards: and’
_ pteschoolers love to participate in’
preparing foods. Still, some precau-
tions are in order.’ :
ay ‘Store. caustic detergents and all,
‘poisonous substances such as

“bleach and cleaning solutions in

cupboards with a lock or childproof

“safety Jatches.- :
: Keep scissors,’ knives, needles ’ ee:

‘and pins out of children’s reach.::
Mop up’any spills. immediately

to'prevent slipping. |

Store’ plastic’ bags, iwhich can. ‘be.

the cause of suffocation? ell out of |

 Take’-exira: care if ‘using’
Styrofoam‘ cups and plates or plastic’.
utensils, since chewed or broken-off
pieces could lodge in a child’s,
throat causing choking. ,.

Place. pots and ‘pans with their.
handles turned towards the back of
"the stove to prevent spills causing -

“burns. :

‘Be extremely careful while

~_ drinking or carrying hot items: when |
~ children are around.

& Ensure highchairs have a wide
base to prevent tipping.

Locate highchairs away from
“appliances, windows and sharp cor-
ners of counters.

®& Use safety straps while children
are in highchairs or seated in hook-
: on-table chairs.

fi Avoid offering children under
four years of age foods that increase’;
the risk of choking, such as peanuts,
hard‘cancy, popcorn, seeds, or
lumps of peanut butter. :

@ Be certain that hot dogs, raw
fruits, or vegetables are cut in
«pieces too small to lodge in chil-
‘dren's throats.

Sleeping rooms

@ Purchase cribs manufactured
after 1986 to ensure they meet cur-
rent Canadian safety regulations.

Cribs must now be marked with the

date they were manufactured.

4 Be sure all crib parts are in good
condition, with no Joose. or. missing
slats. .

HOT TIPS

By North Vancouver
District Fire Services

B Locate cribs, beds, and mats
away from windows and blind
cords.

@ Ensure that there is no more than
a 1” (2.5 cm) gap between the mat-
(ress and the sides or ends of the
crib,

& Check that the crib mattress sup-
port mechanism is secure.

. & Use butzper pads which have no

cuts or breaks.

BY Prevent infants from falling out
of cribs by discontinuing the use of
bumper pads and removing any

large toys as soon as the infant can :

Stand.

§ Remove cords from pacifiers, if
used, to prevent strangulation.

@ When infants can sit up, discon-
tinue use of any mobiles, crib exer-
cisers, and other toys strung over

_ the crib.

@ Transfer children from cribs to
beds or mats when they can climb
out of the crib.

f Consider using a nursery. moni-
tor in the infant sleeping room when
you are elsewhere.

“BA Ensure that playpen walls are
‘made of small mesh netting and that

-- the vinyl pad and rail covers huve

no breaks or cuts.

@ Never offer propped botties to
infants. .

W Never allow children under four

: years of age to sleep on .waterbeds,

by:
Russell

as these can cause suffocation.

& All members of the family,
including young children, should
sleep with the bedroom doors
closed to prevent heat and poiso-
hous gases from entering the bed-
rooms in the event of a fire in your
home.

Bathrooms

@ Ensure that platforms or stools
used by children to reach the water
taps are stable and will not slip.
Store all toxic materials and
cleaning products out of children’s
reach in a high closet or cupboard
with a lock or childproof latch.

fA Never leave children unattended
on the diaper change table or in a
bathtub,

& Make sure that containers of
skin cream, lotion, or powder are
well out of children’s reach to pre-
vent accidental inhalation or swal-
lowing.

B8 Prevent scalds and burs by low-
ering the temperature of your hot
water tank to 120°F,

&® Test the water temperature with
your elbow before placing the child

_in the tub or bath.

@ Teach children to turn on the
cold water tap before turning on the
hot water tap.

Basements

B Take care that children do not
have access to controls for the fur-
nace or hot water tank.

Discard unused refrigerators,

Keep paints, solvents, fertilizers,

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ie a safer place to live

insecticides, laundry products, and
any other tqxic items in a high clos-
et or cupboard with childproof
locks or Jatches.

@ Store flammable products far
away from the furnace or hot water
tank.

Ensure that washers or dryers are
not used as climbing or play spaces,

Workshops

@ Ensure, wherever possible, that

home workshops are not accessible |

to children.

Lock doors or cupboards where ©

hazardous materials or tools are
kept if access to the outdoors is
through the home workshop.
# Store propane bottles outdoors,
or in a shed where there are no igni-
tion sources,

Fireplaces

Screen fireplaces securely or ”

equip them with protective guards.
8 Clean chimneys at least oice a
year to prevent excessive build-up
of combustibles. ;

The preceding information was
provided courtesy of the Office For
Injury. Prevention and the Ministry

. of Health.

For more information on how

you can help make your home a

‘safer place to five, contact District’

of North Vancouver Fire Services
non-Emergency number, 980-7575,
or contact your local fire depart-
ment. :

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