How to take good care of your child?

Title: Home Safety

Narrator: Home safety.

Photo: A girl (12 – 18 months old) is bringing some toys to her dad.

Photo: A boy (12 – 18 months old) is running in the living room while his parents are looking at him.

Photo: A boy (18 – 24 months old) is climbing up the sofa

Photo: A girl (18 – 24 months old) is pulling the curtain ropes

Narrator: Your energetic child loves to run and jump around! However, he has no idea of any danger around him. You should stay alert and check home safety measures regularly so as to prevent any possible accidents.

Heading: Ensuring Your Child’s Safety

Narrator: Ensuring your child’s safety.

Sub-heading: Don’t leave your child alone at home

Photo: Daddy is going out, his son (5 years old) and daughter (3 years old) are saying goodbye to him. Big cross.

Photo: Daddy is going out, Mum, his son (5 years old) and daughter (3 years old) are saying goodbye to him.

Narrator: To ensure safety, don’t leave your children alone at home or to the care of older children. Remember, there should be an adult with them at all times.

Sub-heading: First-aid kit

Photo: First-aid Kit

Narrator: Keep a first-aid kit at home in case any minor accidents occur. It should include:

Sub-heading: Alcohol swabs

Photo: Alcohol swabs

Narrator: Alcohol swabs: for sterilising both hands before performing first-aid treatment.

Sub-heading: Gauze roller bandage

Photo: Gauze roller bandage

Sub-heading: Elastic roller bandage

Photo: Elastic roller bandage

Narrator: Gauze or elastic roller bandage: to bandage a wound and stop bleeding with applied pressure.

Sub-heading: Triangular bandage

Photo: Triangular bandage

Narrator: Triangular bandage: to wrap injured areas, support or fix broken limbs.

Sub-heading: Round-ended scissors

Photo: Round-ended scissors

Narrator: Round-ended scissors: to cut adhesive tape, bandages or clothing when necessary.

Sub-heading: Disinfectant

Photo: Disinfectant

Photo: Saline Solution

Narrator: Disinfectant: for disinfecting and cleaning wounds.

Sub-heading: Sterile dressing set

Photo: Sterile dressing set

Photo: An opened sterile dressing set

Narrator: Sterile dressing set: to clean and cover wounds.

Sub-heading: Sterile gauze pad

Photo: Sterile gauze pad

Sub-heading: Non-woven sterile gauze pad

Photo: Non-woven sterile gauze pad

Narrator: Sterile gauze pad: to cover wounds.

Sub-heading: Sterile adhesive bandage

Photo: Sterile adhesive bandage

Narrator: Sterile adhesive bandage: to cover small wounds.

Sub-heading: Plaster

Photo: Plaster

Narrator: Plaster: to fix a dressing

Sub-heading: Disposable gloves

Photo: Disposable gloves

Narrator: Also, disposable gloves

Sub-heading: 3-Ply surgical masks

Photo: 3-Ply Surgical masks

Narrator: and 3-ply surgical masks.

Photo: A girl (5 years old) cuts her finger and asks dad and Mum for help.

Photo: Mum puts on a bandage for her and the first-aid kit is next to her.

Narrator: You should equip yourselves with first-aid skills. When your child gets hurt, you may help your child with the materials in the first-aid kit and take him to the doctor if required. If it is serious, take your child to hospital promptly.

Heading: Living Room Safety

Narrator: Living room safety.

Photo: Living room

Narrator: Furniture in the living room may also cause injuries.

Sub-heading: Choose furniture without sharp edges

Photo: Round table

Narrator: Consider furniture without sharp edges as your first choice.

Sub-heading: Cover sharp edges with corner protectors

Photo: Table with corner protectors

Photo: Drawer with corner protectors

Narrator: If there are sharp edges on the furniture, cover them with corner protectors.

Photo: Glass surface. Big cross.

Photo: Tablecloth. Big cross.

Photo: Table mat. Big cross.

Narrator: You should avoid using furniture with fragile glass surfaces. Don’t use tablecloths or table mats; everything will fall off if your child pulls on them.

Sub-heading: Use folding tables or chairs with safety lock

Photo: Folding Table

Photo: Safety lock of folding tables (1), (2)

Narrator: Avoid using folding tables or chairs unless they have a safety lock.

Sub-heading: No stacking

Photo: Plastic boxes are stacked up. Big cross

Photo: Short ladder. Big cross.

Narrator: Don’t leave ladders around or stack items, so as to prevent children from climbing and falling down.

Sub-heading: Place sofas against the wall

Photo: A sofa is placed against the wall

Photo: A boy (18 – 24 months old) climbs onto the sofa. Big cross.

Narrator: Sofas should be placed against the wall, or else your child may climb over the back of the sofa and fall down.

Sub-heading: Add railings to balconies

Photo: A balcony with railings

Photo: Door to balcony is opened. Big cross.

Photo: Door to balcony is locked

Narrator: To ensure the safety of your child, balconies should have railings and the balcony doors should be locked at all times.

Sub-heading: Install and lock window guards

Photo: A window guard with a ruler

Photo: Window guards

Photo: Window guards which can be opened

Photo: A locked window guard (1)

Photo: A locked window guard (2)

Narrator: Install standard window guards on all windows. Remember, to keep the window guards locked at all times.

Sub-heading: Tie up curtain cords

Photo: Close-up of the tied-up curtain cords

Photo: A curtain cord

Photo: A girl (18 – 24 months old) is pulling the curtain cord. Big cross.

Narrator: Keep curtain cords out of your child’s reach and remember to tie them up. Your child could be strangled and suffocated if her neck gets caught in the cords.

Sub-heading: Door stoppers

Photo: A door stopper fixes the position of a half-opened door

Sub-heading: Magnets

Photo: Magnet fixes the position of an opened door

Narrator: Stop opened doors from swinging with door stoppers or magnets.

Sub-heading: U-shaped door stoppers

Photo: A U-shaped door stopper prevents the door from shutting

Narrator: The U-shaped door stoppers can help protect your child’s fingers from being pinched in the door.

Sub-heading: Socket protective covers

Photo: Socket is covered by a protective cover

Narrator: Use protective covers for sockets.

Sub-heading: Put away electric extension units

Photo: An electric extension unit is on top of a cupboard

Narrator: And keep electric extension units out of your child’s reach.

Sub-heading: Put safety covers on electric fans

Photo: A safety cover is on an electric fan.

Photo: Close-up of the safety cover.

Narrator: There must be a safety cover on an electric fan.

Sub-heading: Keep the fan away from children’s reach

Photo: An electric fan is on top of a cupboard

Narrator: Also, make sure that your child cannot reach the fan.

Sub-heading: Store matches and lighters properly

Photo: A box of matches and lighter

Photo: matches and lighter placed in a drawer

Narrator: Store matches and lighters properly in a drawer, out of the reach of children.

Sub-heading: Fasten seatbelts

Photo: A baby is sitting on the stroller, with the seatbelt fastened.

Photo: A baby is on the high-chair, with seatbelt fastened and locks secured.

Photo: The seatbelt is fastened.

Narrator: Fasten the seatbelt when your child is sitting in high chairs or strollers and secure the booster seat.

Sub-heading: Safe use of iron

Photo: Mum stops her son (5 years old) from approaching her when she is ironing clothes.

Narrator: Children should not be around when you are ironing. It is dangerous if your child touches it.

Photo: An iron is placed on an ironing board. Big cross.

Narrator: When you finish using an iron, don’t leave it around. Put it away properly.

Sub-heading: Keep the house clean and tidy

Photo: Mum is tidying up the house.

Narrator: Keep your house clean and tidy. Don’t scatter things around or your child may stumble over them.

Heading: Kitchen Safety

Narrator: Kitchen safety.

Photo: A messy kitchen. Big cross.

Photo: A tidy kitchen.

Narrator: A kitchen is also a place full of danger.

Sub-heading: Install a gate

Photo: A gate at the kitchen door

Photo: A boy (18 – 24 months old) is at the kitchen door gate.

Narrator: Install a gate at the kitchen door to prevent your child from entering the kitchen.

Photo: In the kitchen, Mum is carrying her baby. Big cross

Narrator: Also, don’t carry your child in the kitchen. Children can reach out and grab things.

Sub-heading: Turn handles of cookware inward

Photo: The handle of cookware points outward on the stove. Big cross.

Photo: The handle of cookware points inward on the stove.

Narrator: The handles of cookware should point inward on the stove. It can prevent your child from tugging it and being scalded accidentally.

Sub-heading: Cover the stove

Photo: A stove is covered.

Narrator: If your stove has a cover, use it when the stove is not in use.

Sub-heading: Put away dangerous items

Photo: Knives and scissors are on the rack which is placed at a far corner on the kitchen counter.

Photo: Electric kettle is placed against the wall on the counter.

Photo: First-aid kit is put up high.

Photo: Detergents are put inside a cupboard.

Narrator: Put all dangerous items, including sharp utensils, medications, electric kettles, hot water flasks and detergents, out of the reach of your child.

Photo: Detergent is stored in soft drink bottle. Big cross.

Narrator: Don’t use any drinking bottles to store detergents or other chemicals. It is dangerous if children mistake them as drinks!

Heading: Bathroom Safety

Narrator: Bathroom safety.

Photo: Tidy bathroom

Photo: Untidy bathroom.

Narrator: Take safety precautions in the bathroom too. It is full of traps.

Sub-heading: Keep bathroom door closed

Photo: Bathroom door is closed

Narrator: Always keep the bathroom door closed to prevent your child from entering the bathroom.

Sub-heading: Keep the toilet covered

Photo: Toilet cover is on

Narrator: Besides being hygienic, keeping the toilet covered can also prevent your child from sticking his head into the toilet bowl.

Sub-heading: Keep bathroom clean and dry

Photo: Water on bathroom floor. Big cross

Photo: A dry bathroom

Narrator: Keeping the bathroom dry can protect your child from slipping on the floor.

Sub-heading: Put an anti-slip mat in the bathtub

Photo: An anti-slip mat in the bathtub

Narrator: If you are using a bathtub, put an anti-slip mat inside.

Sub-heading: Put away containers with water

Photo: A bucket is placed on the bathroom floor. Big cross.

Narrator: Don’t leave containers filled with water around. Children may drown if they fall into it.

Sub-heading: Use a plastic baby bath

Photo: Baby is bathing in a plastic baby bath

Narrator: Use a plastic bath to bathe your baby in the bath tub.

Photo: Mum is bathing her baby.

Narrator: Never leave your baby in the bath alone, even if it is just for a brief moment.

Sub-heading: Have all items ready

Photo: Mum has all the bathing items needed.

Narrator: Therefore, have all items ready for bathing beforehand.

Sub-heading: Always add cold water before hot water

Photo: Putting cold water into bath basin.

Narrator: When preparing a bath for your child, always put cold water in before hot water.

Sub-heading: Test water temperature with your elbow

Photo: Mum is testing water temperature with her elbow

Narrator: Then, test the water temperature with your elbow before bathing your baby.

Heading: Bedroom Safety

Narrator: Bedroom safety.

Photo: Bedroom (1)

Photo: Bedroom (2)

Narrator: Make sure your child has a safe sleeping environment to protect him from risks.

Sub-heading: Put the cot near your bed

Photo: A cot is next to the parents’ bed

Narrator: If possible, let your baby sleep in his cot and put the cot next to your bed.

Sub-heading: Appropriate mattress size

Photo: The size of the mattress fits the size of the baby cot.

Narrator: The mattress should fit the size of the baby cot. If there is a gap, the baby’s tiny head may get trapped and he may suffocate as a result. There should not be any soft objects or loosely tucked sheets on the bed. A baby can sleep well without a pillow.

Sub-heading: Lock the bars of the cot

Photo: A baby is sleeping in the cot with bars locked

Narrator: Make sure that the bars are locked to avoid your baby falling onto the floor when in the cot.

Sub-heading: Distance between vertical bars should not exceed 6cm

Photo: Showing the distance between the vertical bars is less than 6cm

Narrator: The distance between the vertical bars should not exceed 6 cm or 2.5 inches. Babies can stick out their heads and get stuck if the bars are too wide apart.

Sub-heading: Height of rails should be higher than 3/4 of your child’s height

Photo: A toddler is standing in the cot

Photo: The height of the rails is no less than 3/4 of the height of the baby

Narrator: The height of the cot rails should be higher than 3/4 of your baby’s height.

Photo: A baby is sitting on the sofa alone. Big cross.

Photo: A baby is alone on a bed without guards. Big cross.

Narrator: Never leave your baby alone on the sofa or bed without guards, even if it is just for a brief moment.

Photo: A curtain cord is close to the baby cot. Big cross.

Narrator: Make sure that the curtain cords are out of the reach of your child. Your child could be strangled and suffocated if her neck gets caught in it.

Photo: A bunk bed

Narrator: Be cautious if you have a bunk bed at home.

Sub-heading: Install a secure ladder

Photo: A secure ladder on the bunk bed.

Narrator: A secure ladder can prevent accidents.

Sub-heading: Use foam mats

Photo: A foam mat is placed near the bed

Photo: A foam mat

Narrator: You can also have added protection by placing foam mats on the floor.

Photo: A bunk bed with secure safety bars

Photo: A bunk bed is put against the wall

Narrator: The top bunk should be fitted with secure safety bars of an appropriate height.

Sub-heading: Place the bunk bed against the wall

Narrator: Don’t leave a gap in between the bed and the wall because children may get themselves stuck.

Photo: Mum is talking to her son (2 years old) at the kitchen door with a gate in between them.

Narrator: Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to your children and give safety education to them when appropriate.

Photo: A family is reading storybook together.

Narrator: So please stay alert! Most injuries can be avoided when preventive measures are taken.

End Shot: Department of Health logo

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It should not be rented, sold or otherwise used for profit-making purposes.

Produced in 2015