Child Safety Week 2011 – 'Take a second look for safety'

Every year thousands of accidents that could have been prevented take place and seriously injure or kill innocent children.

'Accidents, the majority preventable, remain one of the biggest killers of children in the UK, second only to cancer. Serious accidents not only cause physical injury that can take months or even years to heal but the psychological impact on the child, their family and friends can last a lifetime.'

Baba Me and Child Safety Week 2011 are urging people to take a second look to watch for anything that may cause an accident. No one is saying that a child needs to be wrapped in cotton wool or that parents should be afraid to let their children have a little independence. But, providing safer living environments and doing what we can in other circumstances; in the car for example can make a huge difference.

Try to take a second look to make sure that hot drinks and that cooking pots are safely out of reach of small hands, take a second glance at the speedometer, and make sure that you have a clear safety route planned in the event of a fire and double check that the safety gate on the stairs is closed properly.

By getting into the habit of taking a second glance for safety, it will become second nature to parents and could help to prevent serious accidents.