Protect your children: Launch of Abu Dhabi's free child safety guide

Dubai: Around the world, a child dies every 30 seconds from a preventable injury. This equates to approximately 3,000 children every day.

But what exactly is a “preventable injury”? And how can parents take steps to prevent their children from becoming victims of completely preventable harm?

To commemorate Emirati Children's Day on March 15, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) and Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) have launched two guides for parents that answer these questions.

This guide, “Child Safety in Cars'' and “Child Safety at Home,'' explains the most common ways children get injured and how parents and guardians can create a safe environment for their children at home and while traveling. It outlines how to ensure that

According to the guide, injuries are one of the leading causes of death for children.

“For every death, dozens are hospitalized, hundreds visit the emergency room, and many more are treated at home. Some children are left with temporary or permanent disabilities. “It does not happen by fate, chance or bad luck. As parents and caregivers, we must recognize that injuries to children are predictable and preventable,” the guide states. Masu.

According to ADPHC, children are at increased risk of injury for the following reasons:

• The head is large compared to the rest of the body, which can cause loss of balance, especially when falling.
• Airways become narrower, increasing the risk of choking on small objects.
• Thin skin makes you more susceptible to bruising, abrasions, and burns.
• Due to their low height, they are often invisible to vehicles, increasing the risk of road traffic accidents.
• Being immature and inexperienced, they do not understand the dangers and risks.
• Curious and fearless by nature – they like to explore.

Children are also at risk from cars being driven into their driveways, especially when they are being driven in reverse. There have also been incidents where young children have been left behind in cars. Parents and caregivers can make a difference by not only educating children about the dangers of traffic, but also by being mindful of these risks.

Here are some guidelines you can follow:

• Always buckle up your child and use a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
• Securing the rear seat also prevents children from leaning out the window and playing. All of this can distract the driver.
• Make sure all windows and doors at the rear of the vehicle are locked.
• Always lead by example and set the right example by wearing your seat belt.

• Park your vehicle away from areas where children play.
• Teach children never to run toward moving vehicles.
• When transporting children, do not leave them alone or leave them alone in the vehicle.
• Install special mirrors, detectors, or cameras in your car to warn of children moving from behind.
• Install lockable fences or fences around play areas to prevent children from running into the road.

• Educate your children about road safety, such as never running or pushing when walking on the side of the road.
• Always hold hands and use extreme caution when crossing the road.
• When walking with them, make sure they stay on the inside of the sidewalk, furthest away from moving vehicles.
• Teach your child to cross the road correctly. Always use designated crosswalks, stand clear of the curb only when the light is green, use crosswalks, and look right, left, and right again before crossing.
• Children imitate their parents and other adults, so be careful never to use your cell phone while walking on the street.

Two-thirds of non-fatal injuries to children are caused by falls and are treated in emergency rooms, according to ADPHC.

Falls often result in minor illnesses such as bruises and scrapes, but they can also cause broken bones and fractures, and severe falls can result in potentially life-threatening injuries.

Here are some guidelines you can follow:

• Never leave your baby alone on a changing table, bed, or other high places.
• Always install safety rails or guards on your child's crib or bed.
• Remove large toys from the crib so your child cannot climb on top of them.
• Secure the harness to the highchair or stroller.
• Use safety gates to block stairs and potentially dangerous areas and rooms.
• Always use window latches and locks on exterior doors.
• Move furniture away from windows where they can be climbed on.
• Mobile baby walkers allow access to potentially dangerous situations, such as falling down stairs, so replace 'Activity Playstation'.
• Be aware of sharp corners on furniture such as tables and units. Use corner protectors.
• Make sure all indoor and outdoor play areas have soft surfaces, such as rubber or foam mats, to absorb falls.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of five.

Most accidents in this age group occur in bathtubs, home pools, wading pools, toilets, buckets, and other containers filled with water. The depth of water required for a child to drown is only 5 cm.

Here are some guidelines you can follow:

• Babies are prone to falls, so always support your baby when around water sources such as the bathroom, buckets of water, or toilets.
• For most children, water means fun, play, and adventure, but adult supervision is always recommended.
• Always keep it within reach of young children near water sources.
• Children who are unable to swim unassisted must wear an armband, swim jacket, or other buoyancy aid and be supervised at all times.
• Always install a locked fence around your home's pool and make sure an adult supervises children at all times. Never leave your child alone, even for a few minutes.
• Teach proper water safety behavior – do not run, push or jump.
• Enroll your child in an age-appropriate water orientation or learn-to-swim course.

Burn injuries can be fatal. Burns can occur in many different locations inside and outside your home, so these locations must be controlled and monitored at all times.

• Before bathing your baby, always check the temperature of the water using your elbow or a thermometer. Temperature must be below 49 °C (120 °F). Purchase an automatic temperature control valve to prevent burns.
• Do not cook or carry hot drinks while holding your baby.
• Make sure pot handles are out of reach while cooking.
• Create a child-free zone around ovens and other hazardous areas.
• Install safety devices around the oven to prevent children from reaching into the pot.
• Make sure electrical cords are out of reach.
• Be careful that children do not plug objects into open sockets as this may cause electric shock. Use safety covers on unused sockets.
• Do not leave lighters or matches where children can find them.
• During the winter, many types of heating are used in homes and on trips (such as camping), which can cause burns, carbon monoxide poisoning, and suffocation. Therefore, supervise children carefully.
• Make sure your home has smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.
• Prepare for potential emergencies by agreeing to a family evacuation plan.
• Do not allow children to play with fireworks. These are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury.

Poisons come in many shapes and sizes and can often be fatal. Most accidents occur in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms because products are not stored properly and are out of reach. It often occurs in the presence of a parent or caregiver.

Poisoning can be caused by ingestion (eating or drinking), absorption (skin or eye contact), inhalation (smoke inhalation), or injection (prick with a sharp object).

• Children are quick to act, and so are poisons. Supervise children at all times.
• Store detergent securely.
• Store cleaning products on high shelves or cupboards.
• Keep medicines and tablets out of the reach of children.
• Do not leave cosmetics or perfumes within reach of children.
• Store the product in its original packaging. Never put it in food or drink containers.
• Always tell children that tablets are dangerous, and never tell them that tablets are candy.
• Make sure all medicines and household items are packaged in child-proof packaging.

• Call the emergency number 999 immediately if:
– Drowsiness or unconsciousness.
– Difficulty breathing or breathing has stopped.
– I can't help but feel restless.
– Having a seizure.
– Known to have intentionally or accidentally overdosed on drugs or other substances.

If the patient's condition is stable, please contact the Ministry of Health Drug Information Center (800424) during working hours for further instructions or assistance.

Choking is a serious problem for infants and young children. When a child is unable to breathe (also known as suffocation), it can be very frightening. Infants are most at risk of choking while sleeping, while young children are more likely to choke on small objects such as food, coins, or pieces of toys.

• When parents sleep with their baby, there is an increased risk of rolling on top of the baby, suffocation, strangulation, or pinching. Babies should always sleep in a bed or crib.
• When feeding your baby, always prop your baby up or have him sit firmly and safely.
• Do not leave young children unattended while eating.
• Never leave small objects such as coins, nuts, or buttons unattended. Please store it carefully and in a safe place.
• Always cut food into small pieces and remove seeds and seeds.
• Choose toys according to the appropriate age group and avoid those with small parts intended for young children.

According to ADPHC, the majority of fatal bicycle and motorcycle accidents result from severe head trauma and brain damage. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 85% and brain injury by 88%.

• Children must always wear a helmet and arm/knee protection when using bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, scooters, or hoverboards.
• Never allow children to ride on or near major roads. Please be sure to keep them under supervision.
• Don't let your kids ride their bikes around your neighborhood after dark. Children may become invisible and may be hit by moving vehicles.
• Teach children to ride their bikes within proper bike lines on sidewalks.
• Don't let children ride motorcycles, quad bikes, or buggies in the desert. Serious death may occur.

The complete guide can be accessed from the ADPHC website – adphc.gov.ae. The guide also provides a checklist for parents to assess how safe their home is for their children.