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Keeping Children Safe This Winter

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With winter fast approaching families are finding that they are spending more time indoors, the fires are being lit and the heaters turned on to keep everyone warm...

Toddlers and young children are largely unaware of the potential danger of heaters and fires and can be fascinated by the flickering flame or glow from the heater. Running past or sitting too close to the heat source can be dangerous for everyone - particularly children who are often more focused playing or on keeping toasty warm! Remember to supervise your active baby (4 - 9 months) too, as sometimes they can cover more floor than you expect, and may get themselves too close to the heater, unable to roll away again.

Below are some things you can do to help keep your family safe and warm this winter:

Keeping safe with fires and heaters
•    The NZ Fire Service has a very simple rule “Keep a metre from the heater”. This means people and furniture should be at least a metre from a heater or fire in order to reduce the risk of being burned, or causing a fire
•    Having a safety guard around all heaters and fires will help prevent children getting burned. Look for a guard that has bars or mesh to stop children putting their arms or other objects through to touch a hot surface or flame, and high enough that a child can not climb over the top. Ensure the guard securely attached to the wall

What to look for when choosing safe nightwear
•    Check the label on nightwear for a “low fire danger” label. This means the design of the garment is close-fitting to reduce the risk of it catching fire, it does not mean that the fabric is fire proof, the fabric can still burn if exposed to a heat source
•    Buy pyjamas that fit your child rather than buying a size too big to make them last. A loose fit can be a fire risk
•    If making nightwear for your child choose a pattern that has a close-fitting design, ‘ski’ pyjamas are a warm and safe option

Safety in the bedroom
•    If you use a heater in your baby’s room, an electric heater (convection or oil filled) with a thermostat is safest. Fan heaters can overheat the room and gas heaters should be avoided as they give off dangerous fumes. 15-17°C is a suitable overnight temperature for a child or baby’s room
•    If you would like to warm your child’s bed, use a hot water bottle and remove it before they go to bed

Safety in the kitchen
•    When cooking turn pots handles out of reach and use the back elements of the range whenever possible
•    Ensure the electric jug is well away from the front of the bench and jug cords out of reach to prevent them being pulled down
•    Avoid having hot drinks or soup while holding your baby or toddler - A cup of hot liquid covers the same area on a baby as a bucket of water over an adult
•    Consider removing the tablecloth from your table to reduce the risk of your baby or toddler pulling themselves up on it and having hot drinks or food tipping over them

For more information, support and advice talk to your Plunket Nurse or call PlunketLine 0800 933 922 (24 hours – 7 days a week).
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