According to international statistics more than two million children under the age of 15 experience accidents in and around the home every year, for which they are taken to accident and emergency units. Many more are treated by general physicians, parents and carers.
On average 62 children under the age of five die every year as a result of an accident and more than 76,000 under the age of 14 are admitted into hospitals for treatment of which over 40 per cent are under 5 years of age.
Dr Ahmad Abdou El Esnawy, senior paediatrician at Latifa Hospital, says that most at risk of a home accident are the 0-4 years age group due to their limited perception of the environment because of their lack of experience or development. They are not aware of the consequences of the many new situations that they encounter daily. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety.
Falls
Dr El Esnawy says falls are the most common home injuries and they account for the majority of non-fatal accidents. International statistics found that they account to 44 per cent of all children’s accidents.
Three-month-old babies become strong enough to roll over, so they are prone to fall out of bed. Meanwhile children who are older can fall while climbing trees, windows, stairs or while they are swinging or on a bike.
To help prevent children from sustaining injuries related to falling, Dr El Esnawy says it is advisable to:
Refrain from leaving babies alone when they are lying on high surfaces and ensure that their beds have protective barriers around them.
Place obstacles to refrain them from reaching when they are in their crawling phase.
Don’t leave your child alone in the toilet as they might slip and fall.
Ensure that all balconies and windows are closed. Do not leave chairs or things that they can climb next to them.
Teach children how to correctly go up and down stairs.
Choose a non-slip type of flooring to prevent falls caused by slipping.
Burns
Dr El Esnawy says burns are the second-most common injury caused at home. To avoid burns all pans and pot handles should be kept away from children’s reach when they are on the stove.
When serving food parents should make sure children do not touch the hot pots. They should not drink hot beverages while they are carrying their children. Parents should also ensure that children cannot reach the iron while they are pressing their clothes.
As for hot water, parents should check the water before preparing the bath and should refrain from opening the hot water tap first. To test the water’s temperature, they should use their elbow as it is more sensitive than palms.
Suffocation
If the child is less than three years old, don’t give them pacifiers that are attached to necklaces, says Dr El Esnawy.
Parents should also not keep stuffed animals and pillows in their child’s crib before they turn one. They should not leave milk bottles in their children’s mouth when they are sleeping.
Children should not be given gum or nuts before the age of four. Parents should not keep plastic bags near them as they might put their head in it and accidentally suffocate. Furthermore, parents should keep gas cylinders in a safe place away from children.
Injuries sustained from sharp objects
Parents should cover sharp edges of furniture and keep cutlery away from them. In case the child sustains an injury, as a first-aid measure, parents should clean the injury with running water as it can clean any dirt or remains of the object. The injury should never be submerged in still water.
Poisoning
Dr El Esnawy says children might get food poisoning because of eating contaminated, expired or foods exposed to the sun. Parents should always make sure that food served at home is not expired or spoiled. Avoid foods that are left open and exposed to air as well.
Parents should also make sure to wash fruits and vegetables properly before giving them to children. Nearly 60,000 children in the United States are accidentally poisoned by medicines each year, says Dr El Esnawy. Emergency departments receive a lot of medicine poisoning cases between the ages one and four because parents are not keeping the medication away from children’s reach. When children accidentally take them they suffer from side effects and in some cases, they can be fatal.
Parents should store these medications away from children’s reach. They should never compare these medications to candy so that children don’t get confused and think they can have them whenever they want. Parents should also always throw away expired medication away to avoid any untoward incidents.
Cleaning products and chemical products
Hospitals also see poisoning cases as a result of children drinking or eating cleaning products or pesticides when these products are stored next to foods and drinks, says Dr El Esnawy.
These products should be stored in closed areas that are away from children’s reach and further removed from food or cutlery and plates used for eating. Don’t let your children enter areas that have been exposed to chemicals such as pesticides. These products should also not be stored in water bottles as children can mistake them for water and drink them.
Electrocution
Parents must make sure all unused power plugs are closed with special plugs and they should be careful not to leave exposed electricity wires.
Children might also get into accidents involving doors. Doors that close on their own or due to wind can be dangerous as they might close on children’s toes or fingers.
Parents should not leave keys in doors so that they don’t lock themselves in it. In the case the child locks himself inside a room, parents must first calm the child down, then call civil defence if you are unable to unlock the door. Don’t break the door in so that you don’t accidentally harm the child.
