Take a second look for safety

Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service is supporting National Child Safety Week by urging parents to ensure their children are kept safe at home and on the road.

The theme for Child Safety Week, which runs this year from June 20 to June 26 is “Take a second look for safety”. Preventable accidents are one of the biggest killers in the UK, and the message this week is that a few moments’ extra thought can make all the difference.

Taking a second look for safety takes only seconds, but will give peace of mind that will last and last. By getting into the habit of taking a second look, safety habits will be come second nature. There’s nothing more important than the safety of a child in the home or on the road.

Fire safety

In the home get into the habit of taking a quick glance round the room for hazards is a simple step that will make safety an automatic reflex for any parent or carer, and help give real peace of mind. Simple checks like checking candles and matches are out of reach, or a quick glance down the hall to ensure an escape route is clear in case of a fire, take just seconds but can save lives.

Another thing you can do to keep your family safe is speak to your children about the importance of fire safety and making sure they know what to do if the worst happens.

Top fire safety tips for keeping your children safe at home.

Don’t let your child play with fire - Keep candles, lighters and matches well out of children’s reach, and never leave burning candles unattended.
Keep safe in the kitchen - Make sure children know that the kitchen is not a play area - never leave younger children alone in the kitchen when you're cooking and never let them play near the oven and hob.
Socket safety - Teach children not to poke anything, including fingers, into sockets.
Nominate your child to be the ‘Escape champ’ – Regularly role-play escape routes and give children the responsibility to keep escape routes clear. Also encourage your children to check that keys are in the correct place. Keys for windows and doors should always be kept in an accessible place so you can get out quickly in the event of a fire.
Discuss how to call 999 – Make sure children know which number to call in an emergency. They should also know their address. You can pin both up by the phone; explain the importance of only calling 999 in a real emergency.
Fit and maintain a smoke alarm – A working smoke alarm can give you the vital time you need to escape a house fire. You should have one on each level of your home and test it weekly.

Road safety

Children will copy adults' behaviour, so if they see you taking risks they will probably take risks too. One of the best ways that you can help your child to stay safer is to set a good example when using roads, when on foot, cycling and in the car.

When you are out and about on the road always follow the rules of the road and talk about road safety with your children as this is one of the best ways for them to learn.

Top road safety tips for keeping your children safe when you’re out and about.

Be a role model - Always follow the rules of the road, young children are prone to mimic older children or adults and can easily pick up bad habits.
Always use a pavement or footpath - Whenever these are available, but still take care and look out for other people, vehicles and cars. If there is no pavement, then walk facing the direction of oncoming traffic.
Both you and your children should wear a cycle helmet – A cycle helmet, of the correct size and properly fitted, can substantially reduce the risk of a brain injury.• Be visible - Dark clothes are sometimes difficult for drivers to spot in the dark. Fluorescent colours are bright and show up well both in daylight and at dusk. Reflective materials are also good as they shine against car headlights at night.
Choose a safe place to cross - Crossing the road is safest at a special crossing (e.g. Zebra, Pelican, Toucan, Puffin) or on a footbridge or underground subway. People have been hit by drivers who haven’t stopped so never attempt to cross until the traffic in both directions has completely stopped.
Make sure your child’s car seat is fitted correctly – 4 out of 5 car seats are fitted incorrectly. Children under the age of 12 or under the height of 135cm should have a booster seat.

Go to www.childsafetyweek.org.uk for further information on Child Safety Week.