January e-news

Welcome to the first edition of Kidsafe’s e-news for 2017! We hope that you had a happy and safe break with your family over Christmas! To start off 2017, we have some helpful summer safety tips – including what to do if you are having an Australia Day BBQ – and how to respond if a child is locked inside a vehicle. We also have some information on button batteries and the latest product recalls. Happy reading and stay safe!

Who is wathcing the kids this Australia Day?

For many families, Australia Day means firing up the BBQ and having friends around for a swim in the pool. Having lots of adults around the pool can often make it seem like there is added supervision for the children – when in reality – no one is giving the kids their undivided attention.

Children can drown quickly and silently – in as little as 20 seconds – so it is important to have a plan in place to ensure that the kids are actively supervised around water at all times throughout the day. To save any confusion about who is watching the kids, nominate a designated supervisor who is responsible for actively watching children around the pool. This means being in the water with toddlers and keeping their eyes on the children at all times.

This role can be shared between adults throughout the day, but remember to use a ‘designated supervisor hat’, or silly shirt so that you always know who is watching the kids. If there are a lots of kids around the pool, you may need to nominate more than one supervisor at a time!

What to do if a child has been locked inside a car

Did you know that a large number of incidents where children have been locked in cars are unintentional? Common scenarios include keys being locked inside the car or children locking themselves inside.

The inside of a parked car can reach dangerous temperatures in a matter of minutes, so it is important to act quickly if a child has been locked inside a car.

If you come across a child who has been locked inside a vehicle, here are the steps you can take:

1. Look around for the parents or carers
2. If the parents cannot be found immediately, or if the child is in distress call 000 and follow their instructions
3. Wait for emergency services, or safely try to remove the child if you are concerned about their condition.

To avoid accidentally locking a child inside the car, remember to keep your keys on you at all times when loading and unloading shopping.

For more information on children left unattended in cars, please visit our website.

Did you check your Christmas presents for button batteries?

Were your kids spoilt this Christmas? Before you let them run off to play with their new toys, it is important to check that they are safe.

Button batteries can be found in many common household items, such as remote controls, singing greeting cards, watches, electronic devices and toys!

If swallowed, these coin-sized batteries can get stuck in a child’s throat and cause severe burns and long term damage to their airways. To ensure your child’s Christmas presents are safe to play with, remember these tips:

1. Check if any of the devices contain button batteries
2. Ensure the button battery compartment is secure (so children cannot access the batteries)
3. Keep loose or spare batteries locked away, or dispose of them safely.

For more information on button battery safety, please visit our website.

Kidsafe Victoria Blog

Have you ever received parenting advice that didn’t seem quite right? There are a lot of child safety myths out there, so we thought we would separate the fact from fiction in our first blog- 5 Myths about child safety. Are there any other child safety myths that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

Product Recalls

Bubba Beanbags — Baby Bean Bags
The bean bag is not fitted with child resistant fasteners and may allow access to the polystyrene balls inside –which can pose a choking hazard for young children. Consumers can contact info@babybeanbagshop.com.au to organise a replacement product. For more information, please click here.

Moosebaby New Zealand — Bubblebum Car Booster Seat
The booster seat does not meet the Australian Standard AS/NZS:1754 as it is only a half booster design with insufficient back support. Consumers who have purchased the booster should receive an email with an Australian address to return the product for a full refund. For more information, please click here.