If you answer no to any of these questions then your children are at risk.

This fact sheet is for educational purposes. Please consult with your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

This fact sheet was produced by The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, www.chw.edu.au and  The Sydney Children Hospital Randwick, www.sch.edu.au

POISONS INFORMATION CENTER CALL 13 1126

EMERGENCY NUMBER 000

HOME ENVIRONMENT

• Do you have a safety switch to prevent electrocuton?
• Do you have a smoke detector located outside each bedroom?
• Are safety plugs fitted in spare power points?
• Are safety gates installed at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent children from falling?
• Do you have a fence that restricts access to the driveway and the street?

KITCHEN

• Do your appliances have short cords that do not dangle over the kitchen bench?
• Do you use teh back hot plates and turn pot handles around to prevent pots being puulled from the hot plates?
• Are knives ansd other sharp objects stored out of reach of children?
• Are all cleaning products, chemicals and medications properly labelled and stored in a locked cupboard at least 1.5m above the ground?
• Do you have a fire blanket within reach of the stove?
• Can you restrict access to your kitchen?

BATHROOM

• Have you regulated the hot water delivered to your bathroom to 590 degrees Celsius to prevent serious burns?
• Does the bath have non-slip mate or hand rails?
• Are medicines and sharp objects kept in a locked cupboard out of reach of children?
• Are any electrical s (i.e hair dryers, electric shavers) stored safely and away from water when not in use?
• Is the bath water temperature always “tested” before putting the child in the bath?
• Are hot water taps unable to be operated by small children?

LAUNDRY

• Are cleaning products, bleaches and detergents stored out of reach, in a child resistant cupboard?
• Is the nappy bucket used with a lid on and kept out of reach of children?
• Can you restrict access to your laundry?

LIVING AREAS

• Is the furniture located safely? (e.g. away from windows)
• Are sharp edges on tables and furniture covered?
• Are blinds and curtain cords out of reach?
• Are glass doors protected by safety film, colourful stickers or made of saftey glass?
• Is alocohol stored in a child resistant cupboard?
• Are toys kept away from the main walkway?
• Are rugs and mats secure to prevent a fall?
• Are there any low level tables that dangerous items could be placed on (e.g watch batteries, tea and coffee, peanuts)
• Are large objects like TV’s, entertainment units or wall units secure (i.e so they can’t fall down on children?)

CHILD’S BEDROOM

• Is the space between the vertical cot railings between 50mm and 85mm wide?
• Are toys suitable for the child’s age?
• Is the furniture located saftely? ( i.e not near electrical switches, windows or celing fans)

GARDEN SHED / OUTDOORS

• Can your garage shed be locked at all tiems?
• Are pesticides, paints, car products and other poisons stored in tightly covered, labelled, orginal containers out of reach of children?
• Is the outdoor play equipment damagesd or potentially dangerous?
• Do you have softfall (e.g woodchips) around play equipment outside?
• Does your pool have a fence at least 1.2m high around all four sides of the pool that connot be climbed by children and has a self-closing, self latching gate?

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?

• Do you have a first aid kit in your home?
• Do you know basic first aid procedures?
• Do your children know the 000 emergency number?
• Do you know the location of water, gas and electricity shutoffs?
• Do you have the phone number for the poisions information centre 13 11 26 by the telephone?

If you answer no to any of these questions then your children are at risk.

REMEMBER

• Check your home for hazards
• It’s’ very easy to make your home safe
• Make sure friends and relatives houses are safe