Kidsafe Victoria in conjunction with “Homesafe” has launched a mobile home safety program to reduce the number of injuries to children that happen in their homes.  Statistics show over 60% of all injuries to children happen in the home.  

In addition to the physical, emotional and social implications of childhood injury, it is estimated that child injuries cost the nation over $1.5 billion dollars annually. 

In an average year in Victoria, child injury in the home results in 9 deaths and a further 30,014 are treated in hospital for injuries. Children aged 0-4 years are at highest risk of injury. (MUARC)  

Major causes of home injury-related child death were:  drowning (36%) and choking/suffocation/strangulation (29%), followed by fire-related burns, dog attacks, poisoning, firearm-related and hit/struck/crush (MUARC)  

Kidsafe is the leading non-government, charitable organisation dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injuries and deaths in Australia. 

Homesafe

is a mobile, one-stop-shop and service dedicated to improving safety in the home and reducing the threat of serious injury or death to children.

Aleks Natora, State Manager of Kidsafe Victoria states, “The Homesafe service has been developed in conjunction with Kidsafe Victoria and provides a comprehensive and convenient solution for people wanting to protect children in their care. Together we are taking the safety solutions directly to the home to remove the hazards immediately.”

In Australia, two children die every week from preventable injuries, while more than 800 children are injured and 200 are admitted to hospital each day; the majority from preventable incidents which occur in the home.

“It only takes one moment of distraction in the home to change a child’s life forever and plunge a family into crisis. Kidsafe understands how difficult being a parent can be, and while there is no substitute for supervision, there are a number of changes you can make around the home which will help ensure peace of mind, and most importantly, your child’s safety.”

Homesafe has inspected over 300 homes for families with young children, or the grandparents of young children, uncovering a number of problems including:

• 80% of homes had easy access to poisons by children. These were mainly medications, detergents and chemicals found in kitchens, bathrooms and sheds.
• 75% of homes had hot water being delivered at over 50^o degrees.
• 60% of homes with over five years olds had dangerous window blind cords.
• 95% of homes had a problem with potential finger jams, mainly unsafe doors.
• 50% of homes had sharp corners on tables and benches at a child’s eye height
• 25% of two storey homes had a danger situation with stairs and balconies. This was either a climbing hazard or a situation where a toddler could fall through the rails.

Homesafe has also found that where people buy their own products and install them:

• 75% of safety gates and barriers were installed incorrectly, creating tripping hazards or reducing the effective size of stair treads.
• A majority of people were unable to fit safety latches to all of their dangerous cupboards and drawers.
• A majority of people were unaware that furniture they have purchased which includes glass doors did not have safety glass.

“Implementation of child exclusion zones preserves the functionality of work areas such as kitchens and laundries. However many solutions are product based; latches for cupboards and safety film for low level glass are typical.”

“There are also common sense remedies such installing safety film on windows to prevent toddlers falling through them, or removing table cloths that toddlers may easily tug on and pull hot drinks onto their faces.”

The Homesafe van is equipped with a range of safety products that saves parents or grandparents from the confusing process of sourcing appropriate and effective safety products.

Bookings can be made at www.kidsafevic.com.au or Tel 03 9251 7725.

Media Enquiries:

Aleks Natora, State Manager, Kidsafe Victoria, Mobile: 0419 836 244

Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Mobile 0417 329 201