Parents of Victorian children are being warned to take additional care to remove dangers in their homes before the school holidays to ensure the safety of their own and other peoples? children.

Kidsafe which also urged new parents to identify child dangers today released its list of the five most common danger areas in Victorian homes. Professor Mark Stokes, Associate Professor Deakin University, and President of Kidsafe Victoria said the most common danger items found in the home were stairs, kitchen dangers, blind cords, window and cabinet glass and doors.

He said, "Parents need to be determined to reduce the potential for injury rates which resulted in 140,000 Australian children visiting hospitals every year following an injury in and outside their home".

The Kidsafe Hit List includes:

Stairs: No barriers to prevent children falling down stairs or widely spaced balusters that would allow children to fall straight through.

Kitchens: Unimpeded access to sharp objects, poisons, detergents, plastic bags and stove tops.

Blind cords: Blinds with looped cords that could cause strangulation to a child.

Window glass: Most houses built before 1985 do not have safety glass and could cause serious or fatal injuries if a child impacted the glass.

Doors: Children playing with the gaps between the door and jamb, particularly on the hinge side can suffer serious crushing or even amputation.

Pool Gates and Fencing: Check the gate is working correctly and the gate closes and locks and the fence is in good order with no objects stored against it that allows children to climb over it.

Professor Stokes said that all of these dangers could be easily and inexpensively rectified but they were the tip of the iceberg as far as dangers in the home were concerned.

Media Enquiries:
Kidsafe Victoria: 9251 7725