The birth of a baby completely changes parents’ perspective on life. It should also change the way parents view the safety of their house and any potential hazards. Before a new baby arrives it is imperative that parents thoroughly and properly baby proof their homes.
Babies and young children are very curious. They touch everything, roam every square inch of the house and won’t think twice about putting something they see on the floor in their mouths. As parents, we want to encourage their curiosity, sense of adventure and intellectual development, but do so in a safe and healthy way.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) approximately one million UK children attend causality departments every year and nearly 120 kids under the age of 14 die as the result of an accident in the home. Children under the age of five are most likely to have an accident and boys are more accident prone than girls. The majority of accidents are falls, with nearly 4,200 children involved in a fall on the stairs each year. Falls and other accidents can cause serious bodily damage, life-threatening head injuries and result in death.
Experts who provide head injury advice for children know how extremely important it is to proof a home. According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, between 40 and 50 percent of people with head injuries in the UK are children. Kids are always bumping their heads on objects around the house; it’s as if they were magnets. Most of the time kids are immune to the pain, but, ever so often there is a more traumatic incident can be dangerous because of the potential damage to a child’s delicate head and brain.
Yet, no matter how diligent you are about using a safety gate, covering sharp corners and brick fireplaces and preventing exposure to harmful objects, it is nearly impossible to completely childproof a home. Either you are bound to miss something or your kids’ curiosity will come out on top. As parents, we have to accept that some accidents and injuries are inevitable.
For some parents, childproofing the home can be quite a challenge. A lack of time, knowledge or know how can all interfere with the process. If parents aren’t capable of making the necessary changes, then they should hire a professional who can. First-time parents, in particular, may want to consider consulting an expert. Fortunately, there are numerous resources online and services in the community for parents and caregivers.
Proofing the house is just a part of the equation. Knowing how to properly deal with injuries is a crucial skill that all parents should learn. Those who specialise in head injury compensation know that safety training can make the difference between a child suffering from minor headaches and effects or life-threatening consequences. In addition to proofing the home, parents should take safety and first aid courses to ensure they know what to do in an emergency.
Disclaimer: This is a guest post
