Home safety is first, last and always

(NC)—Canadian homes may not be as safe for children as many parents believe. A new review of child injury research by Safe Kids Canada demonstrates that many household items we use regularly can cause serious harm to a child. According to a new Harris / Decima survey on home product safety unveiled as part of the national Safe Kids Week campaign, the majority of Canadians (86 per cent) assume the products they buy for their homes are safe for the family to use. This is not always the case. While products used every day by adults have a purpose, these same products can become dangerous when used incorrectly by children.

According to a new report by the Canadian Hospitals Injury Report and Prevention Program, between 1990 and 2007 there were over 1.6 million emergency room visits for children under the age of 19. Nearly half of these incidents were a result of misuse of common household products such as magnets, furniture, window blind cords, bunk beds, trampolines and baby bath seats.

Young children are at most risk for falls from beds (i.e. bunk beds) and furniture such as tables, chairs and couches. Between 1990 and 2007, more than 5,403 injuries from bunk beds were reported.

Children ages 5 – 9 years are most at risk of injury from toppling furniture such as televisions, dressers, wall units, bookcases and water coolers. Between 1990 and 2007, children's injuries from toppling furniture, televisions and larger appliances averaged approximately 9,000 cases per year.

Older children are most at risk for injuries from backyard equipment such as playground sets. Approximately 25 per cent of injuries to children occur on home playground equipment. Falls and strangulation are the leading causes of injury to children on backyard playground equipment.

The Safe Kids Week 2009 campaign called Home Safe Home is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson. A free educational pamphlet is available at www.safekidscanada.ca or by calling 1-888-SAFE TIP.

-News Canada