By Fedhealth

Home should be a sanctuary — a place of comfort, security, and love. However, tragic reports of domestic accidents involving young children serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers that can lurk within our own walls. According to a 2019 Childhood Injury Data Report, 55% of unintentional injuries for children between 5 and 12 years occur at home and are preventable with adequate safety measures and supervision.

This article provides essential guidance for parents and caregivers on how to create a safer home environment. By identifying common hazards and implementing preventive strategies, families can reduce the risk of injury and ensure their little ones are safe as they grow, explore, and thrive.

Understanding the Risks

As babies develop into curious toddlers, they gain mobility and independence that expose them to new hazards. Data from the Journal of Pediatric Research indicate that one in four children had had a home injury at one time in their lives. According to the World Health Organization  (WHO) by the time children reach five years of age, unintentional injuries are the biggest threat to their survival. About 830 000 children die each year from unintentional injuries; that means that each day the lives of more than 2000 families are irrevocably changed by the devastating loss of a child to such injuries.

Common causes of death and injury in children inside South African homes include burns, falls, poisoning, and suffocation, with burns being a leading cause of fatal injury for children under four. Other hazards include choking on small objects, drowning in unsupervised water, and injuries from sharp objects. Therefore, proactive prevention — through childproofing and implementing daily environmental safety measures, as well as attentive supervision — remains the cornerstones of child protection at home.

Five Essential Safety Tips for Every Home

Below are five fundamental child-safety principles every parent or caregiver should apply to protect their little one from preventable injuries.

1. Always Supervise Children Around Water

Water is one of the greatest hazards for small children, even in unexpected places. Babies can drown in as little as 4 cm of water.

• Never leave a young child alone near water or in the bathtub even for a moment, keep your child within arm’s reach at all times.
• Never leave your baby in the care of other children, only responsible adults.
• If you are bathing a baby or small child and the telephone or doorbell rings, wrap the child in a towel and carry them with you if you can’t ignore it.
• Empty the bath as soon as you take your child out of it.
• Keep toilet lids closed or lock bathroom doors.
• Cover ponds, birdbaths and water features with wire mesh, or leave them empty until your child is at least 5 years old.

2. Store Chemicals, Medicines, and Alcohol Out of Reach

Household products can be toxic if ingested by children. The South African Poisons Information Centre warns the occurrence of accidental poisoning is unfortunately common.

• Keep all medicines, including herbal and homoeopathic medication, vitamins and over-the-counter medication, in a locked cabinet where children can’t reach it.
• Teach your small children to “ask an adult first” before they put anything into their mouths.
• If guests bring medicines and other personal products, such as makeup and perfumes into your home, you can keep them in a safe place, such as a locked cupboard.
• Don’t leave items such as hand sanitisers, perfume, air fresheners, bubble bath, and mouth wash in reach of small children.
• Don’t leave cigarettes and alcohol unattended where children can access them.
• Check your purse for potential hazards. Be aware of any medications or cosmetics that may be in your handbag. Keep handbags out of the reach of young children.
• Look under beds and furniture for stray pills.
• Keep all insect repellents and rat poisons out of the reach of children. 
• Keep button batteries and magnets out of reach of children and pets because they’re easy to swallow and can cause serious harm. Be on the lookout for button batteries in some toys and watches, keep an eye on children playing with these items.
• Lock away cleaning agents, medications, and alcoholic beverages.
• Use child-resistant caps on bottles.

Keep the Poisons Information Helpline (0861 555 777) visible for emergencies.

3. Prevent Falls and Furniture-Related Injuries

The potential for a dangerous fall or tumble into a sharp edge can happen in nearly every area in your home. Be sure to put the necessary interventions in place to prevent injuries from falling, climbing and grabbing.

• Install safety gates at staircases and balcony doors.

• Secure heavy furniture and televisions to the wall.
• Add corner guards to coffee tables and countertops.
• Use high chairs and car seats with a five-point safety harness.
• Keep windows locked or fitted with restrictors.

4. Protect Against Burns, Fire, and Electric Shocks

Children are instinctively curious about light, heat, and sound — but that curiosity can be hazardous.

• Use the back burners on stoves and turn pot handles inward.
• Keep matches, lighters, and firelighters out of reach.
• Cover unused electrical outlets with plug covers.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.

5. Safeguard Sleeping Areas and Interactions with Pets

While pets bring joy to families, even gentle animals can unintentionally harm infants. Cats, for instance, may seek warmth near a baby’s face, posing a suffocation risk.

• Supervise all interactions between pets and young children.
• Keep animals out of the baby’s sleeping area.
• Remove plastic bags, loose bedding, and small toys from the cot.

The Power of Supervision and Awareness

No safety device can substitute active supervision. As children grow and acquire new skills, parents should continuously reassess and adapt their home environment. Conduct regular safety checks and remain attentive to emerging hazards — especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and play areas.

Engaging children in early safety education helps instil awareness. Simple lessons about avoiding hot surfaces, sharp objects, or open water can reinforce safe habits that last a lifetime.

Final Thoughts

There will be minor scrapes and bruises along the way, and that is quite normal. The problem is the more serious injuries that are often completely preventable.

Creating a safe home for your child requires foresight and vigilance. Remember, supervision is the most effective tool in preventing child injuries. By staying alert and proactive, parents can ensure that home remains what it was always meant to be: a place of comfort, learning, and love.

References

• ChildSafe. (2019). Childhood injury data report. Retrieved from https://www.childsafe.org.za/files/trauma-data/ChildSafe-Child-Injury-Final-Data-Report2019.pdf
• ChildSafe. (n.d.). Water safety. Retrieved from https://www.childsafe.org.za/downloads/WaterSafetyPoster.pdf
• Fedhealth. (2021). Childproofing & daily safety measures that could save your child’s life. Retrieved from https://www.fedhealth.co.za/podcasts/childproofing-daily-safety-measures-that-could-save-your-childs-life/
• Maxi-Cosi. (n.d.). How a five-point safety harness keeps your child safe. Retrieved from https://maxicosisa.co.za/knowledge-base/how-a-five-point-safety-harness-keeps-your-child-safe/?srsltid=AfmBOopGKpgybFJ8IapWBgGSYoRFAjxKfSkAymu2neZNRpHR3tMwUsG8
• Nemours Children’s Health. (2018). Preventing injuries from falling, climbing, and grabbing. Retrieved from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safety-falls.html
• Raising Children. (2022). Water safety for children. Retrieved from https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/safety/bath-water-safety/water-safety
• Trying Together. (n.d.). Safe interaction between pets, animals, and young children. Retrieved from https://tryingtogether.org/dap/safe-interactions-between-pets-animals-and-young-children/
• Uskun, E., Yıldırım, S., Yürekli, M. V., Çelik, A., & Tarcan, Y. (2022). Frequency and associated factors of home injuries in pre-school children over 3 years of age. Journal of Pediatric Research, 9(1), 84–91. https://doi.org/10.4274/jpr.galenos.2021.88026
• Wanyingo, S. (2018). Child safety – The importance of supervising your children. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/mchild/child-safety-the-importance-of-supervising-your-children-1a7d974aea35
• Western Cape Government. (2022). Poisons information helpline of the Western Cape. Retrieved from https://d7.westerncape.gov.za/service/poisons-information-helpline-western-cape
• World Health Organization. (2010). Child injury prevention. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/eb127/b127_5-en.pdf