1300 88 SAFE

1300 88 7233
www.homesafekids.com.au
Email us
[email protected]

Every year in Australia it is estimated that 320,000 children under the age of 15 are treated in hospital as a result of accidents, many of
which are sustained within their homes. Children under five are most at risk.

The majority of accidents are preventable through simple precautions such as isolating hazards (e.g. poisons and medications) or
installing safety products to guard against them (e.g. stair gates).

Nothing is as effective as active adult supervision in preventing child injuries within the home.
This Home Safety guide has been prepared by HomesafeKids a division of Homesafe Group Pty. Ltd. in conjunction with Kidsafe and
The Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit to assist you to identify and prevent potential injury to children from hazards within your home.
Australian injury figures were estimated from Victorian data provided by the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU).

Do It Yourself Child Home Safety Guide

Equipment You Will Need • Ideally, the shed should have a self closing door and a latch
mounted no lower than 1500mm. If this is not possible, make
To undertake your own child home safety assessment you will need sure it is locked.
some basic equipment. If you are not confident and would rather have
a professional assess your home, HomesafeKids can undertake a low • Ensure that all pesticides, paints, chemicals and other
cost professional assessment for you. poisons are stored in tightly covered, labelled, original
containers at least 1500mm off the ground, out of the sight
• A thermometer and reach of children.

• A step ladder • Ensure that all tools are locked away.

• A power point tester Driveways

• A tape measure/ruler Driveways are extremely dangerous for young children; they are
designed for vehicle access to properties and pose similar dangers as
These items can be purchased from your local hardware store. roads. All vehicles have restricted rear vision making toddlers difficult
to see. On average one child each month is killed in driveway run
One component you may not be able to self-assess is accessible over incidents and many more suffer severe injuries. Most of these
glass. An estimated 3,600 children in Australia sustain serious glass incidents occur at the child’s home with the driver usually being a
cut injuries, many from window and door glass. It is critical to ensure parent or relative.
that accessible glass is safety rated or reinforced against impact.
HomesafeKids inspections show that 25% of Australian homes have • Children’s play areas must never open onto driveways
unsafe glass situations. • Doors opening onto driveway areas should have latches or
handles no lower than 1500mm
Heat treated safety glass is relatively easy to identify by a mandatory
permanent ceramic ‘label’ fired into one corner of the pane. This can • Set up a safe play area for your children, away from hazards
be subtle so close inspection may be required. such as driveways. Your HomesafeKids assessor can help
you do this.
Laminated safety glass is more difficult and can only be identified
by confirming its thickness to be 6.38 mm. A professional glazier or
HomesafeKids assessor can do this for you.

External
There are many dangers lurking in the backyard and front yards of
most Australian homes. Some of these are obvious; others will be a
surprise to most parents.

Sheds & Garages

Sheds and Garages harbour many dangers such as poisoning from
chemicals and injuries from tools. Take the following precautions to
keep children out when you are not with them and safe when you are.
Fencing • It is recommended that play equipment should comply with
Fences should be secure to prevent children gaining access to the Australian Standard AS: 4685:2004.
neighbouring properties. • A soft impact absorbing surface should be installed under
play equipment over 500mm high to cushion falls. It is
• Ensure there are no climbable trees adjacent to fencing recommended that the surfacing is maintained to a minimum
depth of 300mm.
• Centre rungs should be topped with triangular quad to
prevent climbing • Play equipment should not have sharp edges, entrapment
hazards, splintered timber or protruding components that
• Routine inspection should be carried out to remove exposed
could pierce skin, or tangle children’s clothing.
nails
• Remove loose clothing or clothing with cords.
Water
Swimming pools and spas capable of holding more than 300mm • Sandpits should be covered when not in use to avoid contact
of water are required to be surrounded by an Australian Standards with animal faeces.
compliant safety barrier with a self closing and self latching gate.
This includes inflatable swimming pools which can be purchased Vegetation
from your local department store. In most states and territories there Toxic plants can cause illness and even death in some instances.
are considerable fines for non compliant pool fences and defective Parents should be aware of toxic plants that may be present in the
gate latches. Check with your local council or Kidsafe office for more garden. HomesafeKids inspection statistics show that approximately
information on the legislation and safety barrier requirements in your half of Australian gardens have plants listed as toxic.
area.
• The most dangerous of these are oleanders, trumpet lilies,
• Remove any climbing opportunity that might provide access castor oil plants and toadstools which can be fatal if ingested.
to the pool, for example pot plants, outdoor furniture and These species should be removed or isolated.
BBQs.
• Azaleas, rhododendron and poinsettias can cause illness
• Ensure that all gates and doors leading into the pool are and may be the cause of unexplained poisoning symptoms
shut. An open door or a propped open gate might seem in toddlers.
convenient for adults, but could be lethal for children.
• Rhus and Poison Ivy will cause severe skin irritation
• Display a resuscitation poster beside pools in case of
drowning. Your local nursery will be able to assist you to choose child friendly
plants to include in your garden.
• Conduct regular maintenance and safety checks on pool
fencing and gates to ensure that they are in proper working For more information on poisonous plants contact your local Kidsafe
order. office, local nursery or the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Oleander
Nerium oleander

Water features and ponds can also pose a drowning hazard for
children; consider draining water for the duration of the toddler period
Pets
Family Pets can cause injury by biting or disease through contact
otherwise cover ponds with wire mesh or a metal grate to restrict
with faeces. HomesafeKids inspections show that 10% of Australian
access to the water.
homes have a dog/child separation danger. This can be addressed
Water tanks and makeshift water storage containers have been by creating a safe play space for children remote from pets eating and
installed in many Australian houses during the drought. Open drums, sleeping environments.
wheelie bins and buckets used to store water are potential drowning
Electrical Switchboards in all recently built homes are protected by
hazards and should not be accessible to children.
residual current devices (RCD) in accordance with building regulations.
An RCD is a finely tuned safety switches that senses any power surge
Play Equipment or drain and immediately cuts the power supply. If your home is not
Play equipment should be strong, stable and in good condition; regular protected by an RCD you should consult an electrician immediately
maintenance checks are required to ensure that there is no damage to have one installed. Meanwhile, ensure that all power points are
such as rust and that the equipment is safe for use. protected using plastic power point inserts.
Internal Fire Safety
Fire Extinguishers and Fire Blankets are necessary in every home
Some off the shelf products purchased from hardware chains may not and should be installed on the egress side of your kitchen appliances.
provide a satisfactory solution, will often result in unnecessary damage Your HomesafeKids assessor can provide and install these for you.
to walls, cupboards and furniture and could create more dangers. The Statistics show that fire can result from a parent being distracted by
HomesafeKids website has many useful tips on selecting and installing a needy toddler. If fire breaks out, you should first smother the flames
products. with the fire blanket, turn off the fire source if it is safe to do so then
use the extinguisher on any visible flames. If the fire continues to burn,
Parents and grandparents often attempt to “toddler proof” their entire gather children and evacuate immediately. Everyone should develop
home but find the cost exorbitant. Your HomesafeKids assessor can and regularly practice a fire evacuation plan particularly for double
advise how to set up “child safe zones” that provide maximum safety storey houses where stairs could be blocked.
and supervision for minimum cost. Smoke Detectors save lives. Install smoke alarms immediately outside
all bedrooms. Observe instructions to avoid locating in ‘smoke shadow’
Child Safety Zones are a cost effective method of protecting toddlers. areas. Test alarms monthly to ensure that they are in working order,
and replace batteries annually.
• Use safety gates or exclusion barriers to create an area
typically comprising the child’s bedroom, passage and Heating
family room which can be supervised from the kitchen or Heaters such as radiators, slow combustion and space heaters are
family room. all dangerous and a major cause of burns injuries. Wall furnaces are
generally safe however older models may emit sufficient heat to cause
• Obtain advice on which products to use. Typically safety
injury. Restrict children’s access by totally isolating the heater with
gates are recommended for toddlers up to 24 months
an exclusion barrier until the child is old enough to understand the
however better quality products will be effective for more
danger. You should choose a product that is rated for heat resistance.
than double that time. Inappropriately configured products
All exclusion products have plastic components and could melt if not
will damage walls and cupboards while others cannot be
designed for the purpose.
securely fixed to some wall surfaces.

• Once the safety zone has been isolated, address all safety
issues within it including sharp corners, unstable furniture,
cupboard contents, power points, low level glass, etc.

• Doors, particularly those on children’s bedrooms can cause

severe finger injuries. An estimated 4000 children are
treated in hospitals in Australia each year after jamming
fingers in doors, commonly the hinge side. Serious injuries
include fractures, nerve damage and amputations. To reduce
the risk of this hazard, fit finger jam protectors to doors in the
child safety zone.

Windows
Windows are responsible for many child accidents.

• Windows panes in older homes may not be safety glass. Kitchens

These could shard if impacted. Establish the status of the Kitchens contain many potential injury opportunities for children
glass as discussed earlier in this guide and consider re- including burn, scald, cutting/piercing, electrocution and asphyxiation
glazing with safety glass or applying window security film as hazards.
a less expensive option. Your HomesafeKids assessor can
• HomesafeKids recommends where possible, isolate
install window film for you
kitchens with exclusion barriers. Manually operated units are
more convenient than self closing models as access can be
Eye level graphics can also be used to alert children to glass in low unimpeded when the toddler is not present. .
windows and doors.
• Ensure that electrical appliances are kept out of children’s
• Accessible upper level windows can result in falling injury reach and cords are restricted from access. Many
if not restrained. Sashless double hung windows are of appliances have the facility to wind the cord inside the base.
particular concern because their counterbalanced nature Jugs and kettles should be emptied after every use.
renders them easy to open. Most insect screens are designed
to keep insects out and unless security rated will not act as • Ensure that knives, scissors and other sharp objects are out
a physical barrier to prevent access. Windows should be of reach. Knife blocks pushed to the rear of bench tops are
fitted with guards or stops to prevent them opening wider good.
than 125mm. Your Homesafe assessor can install these. • Sharp bench corners are usually at a toddler’s head height.
• Loose curtain and blind cords, particularly those with loops Fit soft corner cushions .
can strangle young children. These should be shortened • Dishwasher detergents and other chemicals are poisonous;
and restrained against the window frame with cleats or cord only fill the dishwasher with detergent prior to use, never
tensioning devices. leave detergent sitting in the machine.
 • If you choose not to gate the kitchen, consider installing a Bedrooms
cook-top hob guard to isolate pots. You should also child- • Ensure all furniture is stable and cannot topple. Bookshelves
proof-latch all cupboards and drawers containing dangerous should be firmly affixed to the wall.
or breakable objects.
• Do not store toys up high on furniture that could encourage
• If kitchen is gated you should consider applying child-proof- children to climb
latches to cupboards and drawers containing detergents
and plastic bags. • Cots that do not comply with Australian Standards are likely
to have entrapment hazards
Laundries • Never place cots within reach of blind cords
Laundries contain poisonous chemicals. HomesafeKids statistics show
that 50% of Australian Homes have a poison danger. An estimated • Never position mobiles or cords over cots or beds.
4000 children are treated in hospital in Australia for accidental
poisoning each year, 80% of them are aged under 4.

• If door handles are lower than 1200mm, consider a top

of door latch or alternatively, install child-proof-latches to
cupboards containing chemicals.

• Filled nappy buckets have resulted in drownings. Always

keep a secured lid on them.

Bathrooms
Bathrooms contain harmful products such as shampoos, cosmetics
and often pharmaceuticals. Common causes of child poisoning are
paracetamol, sleeping tablets, cold and flu medications and oral
contraceptives. Ideally, medications should be kept in a child-proof
medicine cabinet out of children’s reach at least 1500mm from floor
level. Alternatively, ensure all dangerous products are kept in a
cupboard or drawers secured with child-proof-locks. Stairs
Stairs in older homes often do not comply with current safety
• If hot water cannot be restricted to 50 degrees, install child requirements. Every year in Australia an estimated 50,000 children
resistant covers to taps. are treated in hospital for fall injuries that occur in the home; some of
the most serious of these are stair falls. Horizontal stair balustrades
• Ensure hairdryers and heaters are unplugged and stored out
promote climbing. Vertical balustrades and treads with gaps exceeding
of reach of children.
125mm are serious entrapment hazards or allow potential falls. In these
• Ensure you have a fully stocked first aid kit. HomesafeKids instances, protective measures need to be taken. These are usually
can provide this. specific to each situation. HomesafeKids can advise on this. Ideally,
stairs should be isolated with child resistant gates. The HomesafeKids
• Consider using non slip mats in the bath and on the floor to website has photographs of typical stair applications.
prevent falls.

Living Areas
Lounge, Dining and Family Rooms contain dangers you may not
expect.

• The glass in buffet furniture is rarely safety glass and can

result in severe lacerations if impacted. Safety film should
be applied.

• Sharp corners to coffee tables and furniture can result in

injuries. Consider the installation of corner cushions.

• Loose tablecloths and runners can result in toddlers pulling

hot drinks on top of themselves. This is a major source of
scalding. Use slip resistant place mats until your children
are old enough to know the dangers.

• Flat screen televisions can be pulled on top of a child if they

Note: Injury data for Australia has been estimated from Victorian injury data
are in reach. Make sure they are on sturdy bases or secured provided by the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) at Monash University
to a wall. HomesafeKids can recommend appropriate Injury Research Institute (MIRI), HomesafeKids and Kidsafe then estimated for
fixings. Australia on a pro rata population basis

1300 88 SAFE
1300 88 7233
www.homesafekids.com.au
[email protected]