Kids risk death at home

Thousands of children suffer severe injuries and dozens die each year from accidents around the home, partly because parents forget simple safety precautions.

Figures released by ACC this week show 37 children died in the home last year - 23 from falls - and more than 132,000 under-15s were seriously injured.

The figures, released to coincide with Safety New Zealand Week, include injuries and deaths outside the house, such as pool drownings, falls from trees and driveway accidents.

And they've got home safety advisers worried that parents are not taking basic precautions to stop their children hurting themselves.

ACC injury prevention team manager Ceri Davies said while many parents worried about their children getting sick, or being targeted by sexual predators and bullies, they should be paying as much attention to safety in the home.

"They are perfectly justified in worrying about all those other things, but these accidents at home are easily preventable, and the numbers steadily high because that is where we spend most of our time," he said.

Because people are generally more relaxed at home, parents or supervisors tend to forget basic home maintenance, which can prevent injuries and even death.

The kitchen, he said, was the deadliest place for children, who could scale the side of the stove, pull boiling pots of water off the top or get into cupboards and drink washing-up liquids.

"There's not a simple answer to why any of it happens but the most common factor is parental supervision," said Davies.

"Some of it is quite simple stuff - if you are meant to be keeping an eye on a toddler, then keep your eye on that toddler.

"To stop your toddler from climbing up the stove, get a stoveguard. To stop them falling down the stairs make some sort of barrier at the top and make sure it's secure. You don't have to spend a fortune."

Safekids New Zealand director Ann Weaver said some parents forgot to prioritise safety in the home, mainly because there were an overwhelming number of tips to remember.

She said it was a good idea for parents to get down to a child's level to see things from their perspective.

"If parents get down to their level they'll see a lot of things they might otherwise forget about - see what they can grab on to, pull down or open," she said. "It's particularly hard for new parents, and they struggle to keep up with that."

Weaver said falls were the biggest cause of children being hospitalised in New Zealand, and the majority of burn-related injuries happened in the kitchen.

"There are so many things to think about, especially when a parent is tired or has a new baby - it can be overwhelming - but that's why we need to continually reinforce the message to them."

Other hints to keep your home safe for babies include:

* change nappies on the floor rather than a raised surface

* don't leave them unattended on beds or baths

* keep toys and clutter off the floors to avoid toddlers tripping

* use stickers on sliding doors to prevent nasty collisions

* put appliances close to powerpoints so the cords don't dangle in the reach of children.

Safety New Zealand Week starts tomorrow.

Tree fall 'rotten' luck

Mother Julie Davis is well aware how fun in the garden can turn potentially deadly in a matter of minutes.

Her 13-year-old son Jordan was climbing a tree at their Auckland home in March last year, when he fell 2m after stepping on a rotten branch, landing on his head.

"I was inside and I heard this almighty scream from his brother," said Julie.

"I ran out and put Jordan in the recovery position and called an ambulance.

"He had landed right on his head and was knocked unconscious for more than 45 minutes."

Jordan was taken to Starship Hospital where he had x-rays and brain scans before being put in a neckbrace before being sent home.

He still suffers from severe headaches and memory loss.

The accident has prompted Julie to keep a closer eye on her children's whereabouts when at home, but says it's difficult to control every aspect of a child's life.