Well done to each and every one of you who has again juggled so many responsibilities during another lockdown. It has been a challenging time for everyone but hopefully you are all able to celebrate some respite from today.

To all of the attendees who had booked to attend one of our free child car restraint checking and fittings days that were postponed due to the lockdown – thank you for your patience. These are now resuming in some locations – please visit the Safe Seats, Safe Kids website to book your spot or register to receive updates when the next days are running in your municipality.

A huge thank you to each and every one of you who donated to our end of year appeal, seeking $32 donations for the 32 children who died from preventable injury last year. We far exceeded our target and sincerely appreciate your support of our work.

If you are looking for something to keep your kids – and yourself – entertained, please check out our burns safety resources for preschoolers here.

Thank you, keep up your amazing work and stay safe.

Don’t forget to follow our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest tips and advice.

 

Why kids should get creative in Kidsafe’s Farm Safety Competition

This month, the Kidsafe team spoke to Prep Teacher, Crystal, about her experience participating in our Farm Safety Creative Competition last year with her class. Crystal’s students won first place in the Prep-Year 2 category for their class video on how to be safe around farm animals.

The competition invites Victorian kids from 3 years old all the way up to Year 6 primary school students to draw on their creativity to design educational materials including: videos, posters, illustrated stories, collages, radio ads or inventions based on this year’s theme “Think Farm Safe, Be Farm Safe”.

“I received lots of positive feedback from parents who mentioned that the competition and activities sounded great and that the kids had continued to discuss farm safety at home too.”

To read more about what Crystal’s students learnt about farm safety and teamwork while working on their competition entries, check out our blog here.

 

Charity Partner for the Campbell’s Shepparton Running Festival

 

 

JOIN US AND RUN FOR HUNTER – 21st and 22nd August

We are excited to announce that the Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program has been chosen as the charity partner for the 2021 Campbell’s Shepparton Running Festival!

We would love you to join us on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd August in Shepparton where we will be raising funds for The Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Program, established in honour of 2 year old Hunter who lost his life in a drowning incident last year.

With a selection of distances available to run, the event is open to all fitness levels. We would love to see as many families as possible taking part in the 2km Kids Dash which is being dedicated to this precious little boy.

Funds raised over this weekend will be dedicated to supporting more children with potentially life saving swim lessons and water safety education.

To register, please head to the Campbell’s Shepparton Running Festival website.

 

Why do you need a smoke alarm?

Do you have a smoke alarm in your home? How many do you have and where are they located? When did you last test that they work?

Let’s take a look at why smoke alarms are important, where they should be located in your home and what you can do to ensure they are in proper working order and protecting your family.

WHY?
Many people think that they would be woken up by the smell of smoke if there was a fire in their home, however, when you’re asleep you lose your sense of smell. A working smoke alarm acts as your electronic nose and will wake you if there is smoke.

WHERE?
In the past decade, 60% of the fatal fires that Victorian firefighters responded to started in the bedroom or living room. Despite this, less than one in five Victorians have a smoke alarm in their bedroom.

The Country Fire Association (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) advise that smoke alarms should be installed in all bedrooms, hallways and living areas.

They also recommend that you install interconnected smoke alarms – these can help to alert you sooner in case of a fire as when one alarm is activated, all of the smoke alarms in your home will sound (regardless of where the fire starts).

Click here to learn more about interconnected smoke alarms.

CHECK IT – TEST IT
Only working smoke alarms save lives, so it’s important to regularly test and maintain yours to ensure they are in proper working order. This includes:

• Testing it monthly by pushing the test button to make sure it beeps
• Changing the batteries every year. A good way to remember is to change them when you change your clocks back an hour after Daylight Saving ends.
• Cleaning your smoke alarm with a vacuum cleaner at least once a year – this helps to remove particles that will affect smoke alarm performance.
• Changing it to a new unit (If your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old) with a lithium battery with a 10 year lifespan

Learn more about smoke alarm installation and maintenance from Country Fire Victoria by watching this short video and visiting their website.

 

New – Easy Read Fact Sheets

New easy read fact sheets now available!

We have a series of new easy read fact sheets now available to download! The fact sheets focus on a range of child injury prevention topics, including:

– Poisoning
– Falls
– Drowning
– Child Car Restraints
– Hot Car Dangers
– Burns and Scalds
– Dog Safety

The resources are designed to provide parents and carers with child injury prevention information in an accessible, easy-to-read format.

They are a great option for maternal and child health centres, early childhood services or community organisations to link to / download and use.

You can access all of these easy read fact sheets here.

 

Kidsafe in the News

Children account for 15 per cent of Australian farm deaths
Thinking About Farm Safety
Encouraging Kids to Get Creative About Farm Safety
MEAC Offers Free Child Car Restraint Checks
Gracie’s Story – Preventing Burns and Scalds
Kids and Concussion: What All Parents Should Know

 

 

Product Recalls

Australian Health & Nutrition Association Limited – Weet-Bix Little Kids Essentials Spoon

The tip of the spoon may separate from the handle, creating a potential choking hazard for young children which could lead to serious injury or death.

For more information please click here

 

 

 

Amart Furniture Pty Ltd – Hillside Loft Bunk Bed

These bunk beds have coat hooks that extend out further than standards allow, and could pose a strangulation hazard if a child’s clothing is snagged by a hook.

For more information please click here.

 

 

 

Plum Australia – Plum Silicone Soother

These soothers may have been damaged by the packaging, and could pose a choking risk to young children if the teat breaks off from the product.

For more information please click here.

 

Other product recalls this month include:

Glowstix Australia Pty Ltd Finger Torch 4 Pack – Button Battery Hazard
Australia Post Nice & Nifty Deluxe Animal Night Lights – Button Battery Hazard
OB Designs Pty Ltd Wooden Rattle Toy – Choking Hazard
Kaisercraft Pty Ltd Kids Plastic Drink Bottles – Choking Hazard
FutureCo Global Limited Barbie Organic Playsuit Size 2 – Fire Hazard

To keep up to date with all product recalls, please follow ACCC Product Safety on Facebook.