NHS County Durham and Darlington and their partners are calling on all families to take small steps to safety this Child Safety Week.

“Many accidents that kill, injure or disable children don’t need to happen,” said Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive at the Child Accident Prevention Trust.

“We are asking families to take a few small steps like making sure hot drinks are safely out of reach of small hands, practicing with children how to cross the road safely, or fitting and checking smoke alarms. They can all be significant steps to ensuring children’s safety.”

“Child Safety Week gives us the opportunity to put accident prevention at the top of everyone’s list,” added Esther Mireku, Public Health Portfolio lead at NHS County Durham and Darlington.

“It’s definitely not about wrapping children in cotton wool. We want families to understand the real risks to children and gain practical safety skills.”

All Children Centres across County Durham have an ongoing programme of activity that families can access regarding raising awareness of injury prevention.

To mark the week they will also be organising a number of activities within County Durham and Darlington.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust has the following advice to help to reduce the risk of serious accidents.

Prevent burns and scalds: A baby’s skin is 15 times thinner than an adult’s, which is why they can easily be very badly burned. Always put your baby down before you pick up a hot drink as it can still burn a small child 15 minutes after it’s been made!

Prevent poisoning: It can take just seconds for some toddlers to open ‘child resistant’ tops – they’re not childproof!

Cleaning products and DIY chemicals can be very dangerous if children drink them, so they, and medicines, should be stored out of reach and sight of young children, ideally in a high locked cupboard.

Use products with child safety caps and don’t forget about the detergent capsules under the sink and the painkillers in your handbag.

Prevent serious falls: Most serious falls happen when children do something their parents didn’t know they were able to do. Be careful not to put furniture in front of windows as children may climb up it and fall out. Fit safety catches to stop your windows opening too wide and safety gates to prevent serious falls down the stairs.

Prevent drowning: Babies drown silently, so you won’t necessarily hear any noise or struggle if they’re in trouble. Always stay with a baby or young child who’s in the bath and empty paddling pools as soon as you’re finished using them.

Prevent choking and strangulation: It can take just 20 seconds for a toddler to die from strangulation if they get tangled in a blind cord. Keep cots, beds and highchairs away from blind and curtain cords and take care where you hang drawstring bags as a child can strangle themselves if they fall onto their cords.

Prevent road accidents: The number of children injured as pedestrians peaks at the age of around 11 when many start travelling to school on their own. Set a good example and avoid dashing across the road. Children are likely to copy you if you take risks.

Prevent fires in the home: Chip pans and greasy grill pans are common causes of house fires. If the alarm keeps going off while you’re cooking don’t be tempted to remove the battery because the chances are you’ll forget to put it back. Move the alarm further from the kitchen or change it for one that has a silencer button or one that is ‘toast-proof’.