HSE summer safety tips for parents

HSE’s mychild.ie offers advice for parents ahead of the holidays

As school holidays begin, the HSE has shared top tips for parents to help children have fun while keeping safe and well this summer.

More outdoor play, different daily routines, and spending time in less familiar places during the holidays can present challenges such as changes in mood and behaviour while risks can range from drowning, poisons, falls and burns. Staying vigilant and taking simple preventative steps can help to reduce the likelihood of injury to your child.

Dr Abigail Collins, HSE National Clinical Lead, Child Health Public Health, said: “Summer is a time for children to play, explore and enjoy being outdoors, so it’s good to be aware of steps you can take to keep them safe. Supervision is key, especially near water, on the farm and visiting homes that are not child-proofed. A little forward planning can go a long way and help families to enjoy the summer together. For example, empty, fence off or safely cover anything in the garden that can collect water like paddling pools and buckets – young children can be at risk of drowning in just a few centimetres. If visiting another home, make sure your child can’t access areas like a balcony or driveway unsupervised. Remember, the best fun is being with you, whether it is simple downtime, stories, or more active playing games.”

Dr Edel Duggan, Consultant Anaesthetist and Medical Director of the National Poisons Information Centre, Beaumont Hospital, said: “As children spend more time outdoors during the summer, we typically see an increase in calls relating to outdoor accidental poisonings. Young children are curious and may put plants, berries, mushrooms or other unfamiliar substances into their mouths. Parents can help prevent incidents by supervising young children, teaching them not to eat anything they find outdoors without checking with an adult first, and keeping hazardous substances such as weedkillers, paints, white spirits, BBQ lighting fluid locked away. Families visiting the beach should be aware of hazards such as jellyfish stings, and weever fish hidden in the sand. Simple measures such as wearing beach footwear can help reduce the risk. Prevention is the best approach but if a poisoning or serious sting is suspected, call the National Poisons Information Centre in Beaumont Hospital.”

Here are some tips to help make the summer months as smooth and as safe as possible:

At the beach, pool, lake or river

Summer holidays may mean opportunities to splash and swim in local lakes or beaches, or swimming pools here or abroad.

• Always supervise a child in and near water. You should do this whether they can swim or not.
• Never leave an older child minding a younger child close to water, or in the water.
• Stay within arm’s reach of small children as they can move quickly and drown in seconds.
• When using a buggy near water, always apply the brakes, stay within arm’s reach, and keep it away from the water’s edge - the ground may be uneven or unstable, or there may be a long drop into deeper water, for example, on the edge of a pier.
• If you’re on holiday with a swimming pool nearby, be very vigilant. Make sure there is a locked gate or door between your child and the pool.
• Make sure arm bands and other buoyancy aids have an approved current safety standard mark (I.S. EN131138 and the CE mark) and fit properly.
• When standing or walking near water, teach children to ‘Stay Away From Edges’ (S.A.F.E). Do always tell children never to enter water without an adult supervising them.
• Watch out for beach hazards such as jellyfish and weever fish. Jellyfish can sting even after they have washed ashore while weever fish may be hidden in the sand and can cause painful injuries if stepped on. Wearing beach shoes or sandals can help reduce this risk.

In the garden

• Be aware of toxic plants - foxglove can be poisonous if swallowed.  Some plants like giant hogweed can cause serious skin irritation. Get rid of any mushrooms or fungi growing in your garden. The National Poisons Information Centre has a guide on seasonal toxic plants on their website.
• Keep garden sheds and garages locked. Store hazardous substances such as weed-killers, insecticides, drain cleaners, antifreeze, BBQ lighting fluid, paint, white spirits, screen wash, and other car cleaning products out of reach and sight of children. Make sure children are kept well away from lawn mowers, strimmers and hedge cutters.
• Young children can drown in just a few centimetres of water. Empty, store upside down, fence off or safely cover anything that can collect water. This includes paddling pools, ponds, barrels, water troughs, buckets and basins.
• Take care at barbecues, fire pits and outdoor heaters – help prevent burns by making sure children don’t play nearby.

When out and about

Think ahead to potential risks when going somewhere new or less familiar.

• Visiting other homes - You may be visiting a home which is not child-proofed. For example, grandparents’ medicines, and other poisonous items like liquid-detergent capsules, dishwasher tablets, batteries or liquid reed diffusers could be within easy reach. Make sure your child cannot access areas such as a balcony or busy road unsupervised.
• In busy places - If you’re out and about with children and other adults, it can be easy to get separated or assume another adult is with your child in busy places such as outdoor events or playgrounds. Always be clear on who is supervising the child and when.
• On driveways - Driveways are places where children like to play. When vehicles are coming into or leaving the driveway, make sure your child is safe. Keep them inside the home or hold on to them securely. Consider designating a safe space for them to go to if a car is about to move or enter the driveway, for example, standing next to the front door.
• Out with the buggy - Do not hang a blanket or other material over the front of your buggy. This stops air circulating and your baby may overheat. It also prevents you from being able to see your baby. Being able to see you helps your baby feel more secure and with bonding. It is also important for safety reasons to be able to see your baby if they fall asleep while you are out pushing the buggy.
• In the car - Never leave your child unattended in a car, even for a short while. Risks include over-heating and breathing problems on a warm day.
• On the bike - make sure when cycling that your child always wears a well-fitting helmet and reflective or high-visibility clothing. Watch out for clothing that could get caught in the wheels or chain. The bike should be the right size for them with working brakes, lights, reflectors, tyres and bell.
• E-scooters - Keep children off e-scooters. Only people aged 16 years and over can legally use them. They are not a toy and can cause serious injury.

On the farm

Farms can be fascinating for children but dangers include falls or drowning, farm machinery, chemicals, and farm animals.

• Never allow a child onto a farmyard unless an adult closely supervises them.
• Make sure there is no access to high areas and secure gates and doors.
• Do not let children play on bales - they can fall off them or between them and suffocate.
• Do not leave equipment or items against walls, sheds or other structures – children may climb on them or cause them to fall onto themselves.
• Empty, fence off or safely cover anything that can collect water - this includes wells, ponds, drains, soak pits and water tanks. Fence off exposed areas, including slurry pits - slurry is both a drowning and suffocation risk.
• Children should never be allowed near tractors and farm machinery, whether they are in use or not. An adult should always closely supervise them.
• Keep children at a safe distance from livestock. Remember that animals guarding their young could be more aggressive and unpredictable than usual. If visiting a farm with your dog, do not leave your child in charge of it. Keep your dog on a lead and away from farm animals.
• Wash and dry everyone’s hands thoroughly with warm running water and soap after touching animals and before eating. Animals can carry germs like E. coli and cryptosporidium that may cause illness.

Get more information and tips from mychild.ie, including other summer topics such as outdoor play equipment, heat stroke and heat exhaustion, travel and motion sickness and check out the HSE’s mychild socials.

The Poisons Information Line is open from 8am to 10pm every day on 01 809 2166. Outside of these hours, contact your GP or hospital. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.