One memory that always sticks out from my childhood was when a family in my neighbourhood died in their sleep as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. I can’t remember the details, I couldn’t even tell you which house it was, but I can tell you it sent shock waves throughout our quiet little cul de sac. I must have been nine or ten years old and can still remember laying flowers down outside a house that looked eerily like my own although sealed off with police tape.
But the devastation doesn’t end there - as recently as January 2013 the tragic tale of Hannah Jane Thomas was played out in our newspapers. This beautiful, smiley and happy teenager passed away in her sleep as a result of a disposable BBQ being left inside the family’s tent on what was meant to be a fun family getaway. This was a mistake that anyone of us could have made and listening to her parents describe their loss on countless news programmes never failed to make me sob.
We have a carbon monoxide monitor here. It lives on top of the coving at the top of our stairs and flashes at us discreetly every few seconds to let us know it’s functioning properly. We test it out every few months and therefore know that it would be impossible to ignore its piercing wail in the event of an emergency. As a soon-to-be mummy of two, it gives me so much peace of mind.
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is easily preventable yet it needlessly kills and injures up to 4000 every year across the UK.. Although it is a colourless, odourless gas that the naked eye cannot see, even moderate elevations in the home are easily detectable by monitors. Unfortunately however latest figures reveal that only 1 in 10 households have one.
The Carbon Monoxide – Be Alarmed! campaign is run by Energy UK on behalf of British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, ScottishPower and SSE, in partnership with the Dominic Rodgers Trust. They’re aiming to get an audible monitor in every home and reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by this silent killer.
Risks and Symptom
- Carbon monoxide can be fatal and can lead to a range of serious health problems including lasting brain and nervous system damage.
- The symptoms of mild poisoning are often similar to common illnesses such as flu or food-poisoning, meaning people often don’t realise they are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning until the symptoms get worse.
- The most common symptoms of mild poisoning are: nausea, dizziness, tiredness, headaches and abdominal pain. Some people may also vomit.
- The longer someone breathes in carbon monoxide, the worse the symptoms will get. They may lose their balance, vision and memory. There is also a high chance with high or prolonged exposure that they will fall unconscious or, at worst, die. This can happen within two hours if there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the air.
Other warning signs that suggest carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Other people in your house, flat or workplace experiencing similar symptoms
- Symptoms disappearing when you leave your home and returning when you come back
If you’d like more information, you can visit the website at CO-bealarmed.co.uk or follow the campaign on Twitter and Facebook. In order to help spread awareness, they’ve kindly offered me 5 alarms to giveaway - Entry is via Rafflecopter so good luck everyone, and please remember to buy your own if you’re lucky enough to win.
- UK entrants only - you must be over 18 too (sorry)
Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com
Go round your rooms on your hands and knees so you can see the dangers & temptations for you little one
LEAVE A TOWEL OVER DOORS NO MORE FINGERS SHUT IN SLAMMED DOORS
Use plug covers - babies love to poke in holes!
Don’t assume ANYTHING is out of reach.
Cover all plugs
Cut blind cords or get rid of those kind of blinds altogether.
If electrical sockets are within reach of small children and toddlers, ensure that they have safety covers on them so that the children can’t poke things into them.
look out for child high hard and sharp edges on furniture and fittings especially where children might run and stumble
Lock on the cupboard under the kitchen sink, and then make sure you always member to put your chemicals, cleaners etc in there and not somewhere else!
Always make sure that all wires and cords are out of childrens reach.
a stair gate is a must - kids will climb given the chance!
Make sure that everything that’s not nailed down is out of reach!
keep all medicines in a zip up bag up high in the kitchen or bathroon
safety gates and socket covers
get a old fashioned medicine cabinet
Don’t be lazy it only takes a second to close the baby gate or use the other locks like cupboard locks to keep children safe.
Put as much as you can up out of reach.
Keep harmful liquids in high cupboards at all times!
Always cover plug sockets
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Only use the back rings on the hob.
Child Safety is a priority. There is a need for Awareness, as children grow and develop rapidly :- whilst they are naturally curious. I would say think and plan ahead, attending Child Safety classes or seminars would be of benefit. Doing a recognised First Aid Course (such as the British Red Cross etc, etc) is a wise decision and benefit. As accidents can and do happen, so it is good to know how to act safely in providing first aid as/when required. Whilst having awareness of when Emergency Services is required and how to contact them etc.
Never leave children alone!
make sure all medicines, cleaning products etc are locked away.
Never leave a child in a baby walker - they are the biggest accident risk x
Keep kids away from the kitchen, especially when you have things on the stove
keep ypour eyes and ears open
test smoke alarms regularily
becky @ lakes single mum recently posted…Flowery Friday
Child locks on all cupboards!
I have always used plug protectors, my eldest never paid attention to them but my youngest goes straight for the plugs!
Make sure cooking pans are on the back two burners at all times
I ensure all medication and cleaning misc.. even toiletries are well out of reach, in top cupboards and on the wardrobe. My neighbours son had to be rushed into hospital once after eating washing detergent she had left on her kitchen side,
Arghh..
I have my coffee in a insulated cup with a lid in the house, much safer.
dont allow children to play or run around with things in their mouth, if they fall there is a risk of bodily injury and it is a choking hazard.
Never leave children alone in the bathroom.
Best safety tip bar none is what most people do is to make sure all unused electrical sockets have a safety plug in.
keep the doors closed so they are in the same room as you
Put all the cleaning materials and chemicals in a locked cupboard
use safety covers for sockets
Put safety catches on all drawers!
We use a stair gate on the living room so that we keep all the ‘less safe’ stuff out in the dining room x
Colette (“We’re going on an adventure ….”) recently posted…Silent Sunday - 13.10.13
never trust the handle, my mum always told me when drinking hot drinks when holding a baby.
Use plug covers as babies and children get so curious!
Dont put things near windows which are easily climbed on
cover all plugs and move wires
Use safety plugs on all outlets. It’s often a forgotten thing.
The stair gates is essential to prevent and stop accidents!
locks on kitchen cupboards!
Don’t assume they can’t get to or reach something they shouldn’t there is always a way!
Child safety has to become a way of life, you need to check over every room, move things, put locks where needed. Then just remembering to do things in a certain way - don’t leave things lying around, be careful with pans, hot drinks etc
Safety gates at top and bottom of stairs and never leave young children alone
Remind Grandma to keep bleach etc. in locked cupboards
it is amazing how fast and young kids can and do learn how to climb and to places you would never think off
Keep an eye on them.
Safety gates to keep them away from mischief
x
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Never ever leave a child unattended with any pet, you never know when the instinct to bite/scratch will be awakended, even in the most docile of creatures
We live in a triple storey, so stair gates are vital, they can be a real pain when you want to get to the second floor but they keep my son safe so are important
Never have a hot drink while holding a baby or small child.
Cover sharp corners
i get quite a lot of medication and it always comes in blister packs. i had a scare once when i thought my baby may have eaten some strong painkillers. it turned out she hadnt but to be on the safe side i now empty the blister packs and put the tablets in child proof pots.
Hide all wires and keep hot mugs away from the edge of tables
Put locks on all kitchen cupboards so little hands can’t get in
I think having child locks on kitchen/bathroom cupboards is a must.
safety lock cupboards fridges etc and put safety things on corners of tables etc.
and most importantly plugs
If you have to leave the room put little ones in a playpen, even the most vigilant of parents can slip up (maybe leave a hot drink within reach or something) if they are in a rush to answer the door or go to the bathroom urgently!
Ensure all blind cords are well out of reach and tied back.
Put foam on sharp corners
cover all plugs
make sure cords from blinds are tucked away safely
Get down to your child’s level…what is dangerous now?
Use plug sockets
Give them to mum for 18 years
get down to your childs level to check everything
don’t no what I would of done without stairgates, I’ve read the other comments and even though I agree and use many of them I’ve found one of the most important thing i’ve done to keep my little girl safe is to teach her what’s dangerous and why it’s dangerous.
keep cupboards locked and always have a gate on the kitchen door and at top and bottom of stairs
teach children how to do things instead of keeping them away
Always use a stair gate
Locks on kitchen cupboards is a must
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Cover all plugs
Make sure all ornaments are out of reach of Children would be my top tip - it’s important they don’t bash themselves with anything sharp or hard
I learnt this one through experience.
Don’t be over anxious about keeping your home stick and span.
While I was engrossed in tidying up for elderly guests, my daughter managed to pull my make up bag out, and was eating my lipstick!
My guests told me that you can’t have a happy child and a clean hearth.
So, my safety tip is, keep your eyes on your baby and not on the mounting dust.
always keep anything sharp out of the way and in a non accessible place
lovely prize xxx
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always lock front and back door once they reach the handle they will be in the street
Stairgates, top & bottom
baby gates …. cupboard locks…putting medice up high were it cannot be reached.
Never use a dummy cord/attachment while baby is sleeping
Always keep chemicals and dangerous items above reachable height
Walk around on your hands and knees with your eyes closed. You’ll soon bump into the potential dangers
Make sure you don’t leave any blind cords in reach of children
Crawl around at their eye level and see what’s within reach
always put things like bleach, washing up liquid in a locked cupboards
Locks on kitchen and bathroom doors can save a lot of heartache - my steps sisters kids have flooded the bathroom (TWICE) to an extent that it went through the ceiling and messed up the electrics! My sons favourite thing to do is raid the fridge and kitchen cupboards (using his toys to climb up), mixtures of eggs, flour and oats on the floor can be a nightmare to clean up. Just get locks for the doors and save yourself a whole lot of trouble.
don’t assume anything is out of reach, double check everything
Make sure you have everything you need before putting your child in the bath and never, ever, leave them alone in the bath.
use safety sockets
put a child safety gate at the kitchen door. It’s by far the most dangerous place for children to be and they seem to be drawn to it like magnets!
when completing a safety assessment in your home - make sure and see things from the same level as your child - some things are easy to miss from adult height
Kitchen cupboard locks are essential for cupboards with anything harmful in
stairgates!!! (Rebecca beesley on rafflecopter / @thebeesleybuzz on twitter)