Parents' work pressures put children's safety at risk

The research shows that work demands and the economic crisis are causing so much stress to parents that they pay less attention to their children’s safety. Four in ten parents admit they fail to think about protecting their children from serious accidents. 

The charity, which works to reduce the number of children and young people killed, disabled or seriously injured in accidents, also found that exhaustion from working long hours affects seven in ten parents.

Asked about their parents’ generation, more than half of parents say that they are under more stress. Four in ten indicate they need advice about keeping their children safe, according to the UK-wide survey of 2,000 parents.

The findings coincide with the launch of Child Safety Week (18-24 June), which gives parents support to recognise the real risks to children’s safety and practical steps they can take to prevent serious accidents.

Katrina Phillips, chief executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust, said, ‘British parents today are exhausted, stressed and struggling to keep their heads above water. Child safety feels like one more thing to add to an already impossible to-do list.’

Although child safety is of paramount importance to most parents (77 per cent), the research shows that many are failing to take the necessary steps to protect their children from accidents. Only 27 per cent put cleaning products out of reach and just nine per cent tie blind cords onto a hook. At least two children die every year after getting caught in a blind cord.

Stress expert Professor Cary Cooper said, ‘The UK has one of the highest number of working hours in Europe, and two out of every three parents are in two earner families. Long working hours put massive pressure on families and it is often the children who suffer as a result.’

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said, ‘All parents naturally want to create a safe environment for their children – but busy mums and dads don’t always have enough time to put every measure into place to prevent accidents. Many families also aren’t aware of how simple it can be to prevent accidents and save lives.’

Activities at nurseries to mark Child Safety Week include the national Big Taste Test on Thursday, 21 June, which will get parents to taste Bitrex, the world’s bitterest substance.

Child Safety Week will also see charity Action on Hearing Loss call on parents to protect their children’s hearing by ensuring they wear ear defenders when exposed to loud noise.

Mark Catling, head of business and relationship development at Action on Hearing Loss, said, ‘Anyone who’s seen a child covering their ears at noisy events like concerts and firework displays will recognise that young ears are sensitive to loud noises.’

Ten accident prevention messages

• If you keep detergent products under the sink, move them to a high cupboard or one with a lock.
• Keep medicine in a locked or high cupboard too, and don’t forget the painkillers in your bag.
• A hot drink can burn a young child, so put your baby down before you pick up yours and don’t pass hot drinks over children’s heads.
• When crossing the road, children should stop at the kerb and look both ways. A third of children injured crossing the road admit they didn’t do that.
• Tie your blind cords back round a hook to keep loops out of reach of climbing children.
• Avoid burning your children with hot water by putting the cold water in first and topping up with hot. You will have to test the water with your elbow.
• After unplugging hair straighteners, put them where they cannot be reached by children.
• Forty-five toddlers are admitted to hospital daily after a fall. Make sure you fit a window lock which only opens to 6cm (2.5in). You should also use safety gates on stairs.
• Thick, black smoke can kill your child in seconds, so get a smoke alarm fitted on every level of your home and test it regularly.
• Make sure you cut up your toddler’s food into small pieces. They can choke even on a grape.

www.childsafetyweek.org.uk