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Safety Tips
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Summer is a time for being outdoors and enjoying the holidays. Plan ahead to provide safe play environments for children. When travelling and when away from the home environment be aware that accidents still occur and that steps must be taken to prevent them.
Holidays
Holidays are a time for rest, to explore and have fun. Plan holidays carefully to ensure that you all have an enjoyable and safe time.
- Travelling with children in the car can be a trying time. Remember to allow a little extra time so that tension is minimised and praise good behaviour.
- If travelling long distances by aeroplane or train, it is a good idea to take your child car seat or h-harness with you. Airlines are very helpful and you will be able to use it when you get to your destination.
- Children have shorter attention spans than do adults. Plan several shorter activities.
- Ensure that if you stay with friends or relatives or at holiday accommodation, there is space for children to play safely.
Christmas gifts
At Christmas children receive many gifts and want to use them as soon as possible but may lack the necessary skills to use them safely. Choose gifts carefully and offer suggestions to family and friends.
- Choose play equipment such as swings and slides which meet the Australian Standard.
- Trampolines are not recommended for home use for children under the age of 6 years.
- Give appropriate safety equipment as gifts. For example bicycle helmets and knee and elbow pads with skates.
- Teach children to ride bicycles and skate in quiet, off road locations. Ensure bicycles and skates are not being used in unfamiliar surroundings.
In-line skates, skateboards
Skating is a very popular activity among young people. Encourage children to practise control of direction and speed when skating.
- An approved helmet should be worn at all times.
- Elbow, wrist and knee padding should be worn.
- Warm up exercises such as circling feet and heel and toe raises are a good idea.
- Children should know how to 'fall' correctly.
- Discourage 'towing' ie. children pulling other children.
Water
Drowning is the most common cause of death in children aged under 5 years of age. Parents, grandparents, in fact, everyone needs to be aware of the dangers of pools, baths, buckets, dams and rivers and what they can do to make these places safer.
- Always supervise children near water.
- Pools must be fenced with a fence built to the Australian Standard. This fence should have a self-closing gate with a child resistant latch.
- At the beach teach children to swim between the red and yellow flags which indicate safer swimming conditions where lifesavers are patrolling.
- Diving and jumping into dams, channels and lakes is dangerous. Sliding or wading into the water are better options.
No child can be 'drown-proofed', however the risks can be reduced through education, skill acquisition, safe behaviour patterns and constant parental supervision.
Play equipment
The most common cause of injuries is falls. Good design and regular maintenance of equipment can reduce injuries. In Australia, standards for playgrounds offer design guidance.
- Playground equipment with moving parts is more dangerous than static equipment.
- It is important to provide static play areas such as digging patches and sandpits as well as equipment for active play.
- Bolts, hooks, springs and other fixtures should be recessed or covered.
- Soft fall undersurfacing is required under play equipment with fall heights of more than 50cm.
- Safe play equipment is equipment which is always in a state of good repair. Be responsible for maintaining home equipment and reporting public playground equipment which is faulty to the responsible Council.
Beach
The beach and surf environment pose many hazards. Ensure that you are prepared when visiting the beach to ensure that you all have an enjoyable and safe time.
- Teach children to look for and swim between the red and yellow flags which indicate safer swimming conditions where lifesavers are patrolling and ready to assist any swimmers who may get into danger.
- It is essential that children are closely supervised at all times when at the beach.
- Be 'sun smart', ensure that children are clothed in long sleeved tops, wear broad rimmed hats, have sunglasses and regularly apply sunscreen.
- Remember that beach conditions such as water depth, rips (currents of water heading out to sea), the beach floor and waves change constantly.
Venomous creatures
Australia has many venomous creatures. These include bees, wasps, spiders, snakes, ants, ticks and marine or sea animals. During the warmer months, the risk of children being stung or bitten increases as creatures become active and children play outside more.
- Teach children not to disturb or provoke venomous creatures as they are likely to attack.
- Dress children in closed-in footwear and long pants when in the bush and use insect repellents on children over 12 months.
- Soft drinks from a can or bottle should be drunk through a straw, as wasps and bees are attracted to the sweetness.
- Keep children away from insect nests. Contact your local Council or your state department of Agriculture for help in removing the nest.
- If your child is known to be allergic to bees, wasps or ants, the child should wear a medical-alert bracelet.
Trampolines
Physical education professionals see trampolines as valuable for developing balance and coordination. However trampolines pose injury risks for children which can result in serious injuries such as fractures, spinal and internal injuries.
- Children should be supervised by an adult when trampolining.
- Trampolines for use at home are not recommended for children under six years of age.
- Check trampolines regularly. Look for wear around joints, signs of fraying or laddering of beds, replace torn pads and securely attach springs.
- Children using trampolines should be dressed in suitable clothing. Loose clothing allows the free use of hands and feet. Bare feet slip less than socks.
- Teach children to use trampolines safely. Only one child should jump at a time and they should be encouraged to stay in the centre of the bed and mount and dismount sensibly.
Tennis
Sport is recognised as being of great benefit to growing children and tennis is a popular choice. Sporting injuries are more likely to occur at the beginning of a season, when players are less fit and skilled.
- Check that the court is swept regularly to prevent slips and falls.
- Ensure that players wear sporting shoes that provide flexibility as well as support.
- Encourage players to warm-up before a match and to cool-down afterwards to prevent injuries.
- It is a good idea for children to be coached. Choose qualified coaches who will encourage correct techniques.
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