KEEPING KIDS SAFE - MNHQ NEED YOUR TOP TIPS

[AbbyMumsnet]

Hi all, we need your words of wisdom re' keeping kids safe. The areas we want to cover are:

At home - safety gadgets, bath-time rules etc.

Road safety (pedestrian/cycling awareness etc)

Out and about with you (e.g. WWW's tip of writing your mobile number on your child's arm if you are out somewhere busy where they might get lost).

Out on their own - how do you discuss the topic of "stranger danger" without terrifying your child? Does your child have a mobile for emergencies? Etc etc.

Please, please add them here, as soon as poss!

Thanks.

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When I was teaching a Reception class, the fire brigade came to visit. They taught the children that if their clothes ever caught fire, they should

"Stop, Drop, Roll"

ie. stand still, drop to the floor, roll around to put out the flames.

It really stayed with me and I've started teaching dd.

i met a 12 yr old boy the other week who'd used stop, drop and roll when he caught fire, and it worked!

if you don't have those door things which stop children from slamming their fingers shut in them, you can just put a towel over the top of the door

My dh managed to mislay ds1(just 4 at the time ) at Twickenham just over a year ago and since then if we are anywhere crowded he has our mobile numbers in each pocket.
I also always have the reins for ds2(2) if he's not in the buggy - both ds's are runners!

That's really good to hear Bundle

Allowing your children to have as much independence as you can manage will benefit their safety in the long term, as they become able to judge situations and take responsibility for their personal well being. Keeping children TOO safe by relying on gadgets, and never letting them roam unsupervised, means they are more likely to be clueless and vulnerable, when a tricky situation does arise.

littlefish, he'd been trying to put out a bonfire (in the summer) and an aerosol exploded, setting fire to his trousers, he stopped, dropped, rolled, took his trousers and trainers off, ran home, got into a cool bath while waiting for the ambulance

what a guy!

Teaching children that they are in charge of their own bodies helps protect against sexual abuse. Let them decide who and when they want to give kisses and cuddles to, for instance - don't force them to kiss Grandma goodbye if they don't want to. Teach them which parts of the body are private and just for them. Tell them it is fine to shout "NO!" to tell an adult to stop if they are touching them in a way that they don't like.

at the 12 year old boy

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I think sadly children are often taught that they should always do whatever an adult wants, and that they must never say no to an adult

I think it does help abusers get away with stuff

That's amazing Bundle. He obviously remembered what he'd been told and managed to do it, even when he felt scared.

Fantastic.

Agree with Mumofmonsters that only by walking plces do kids get to grips with road safety.

I cycle to school with my two, initally it was nerve racking but now they have learnt about stoping safely at roads etc .

Also teach them to cross ensure that cars have actually stopped when the green an flashes, as some drivers dont know what a red light means !

Ensure when walking , scootering or cyclcing to school they wear bright yellow reflective bibs , amzing what a differnec it makes to their visibilty.

On a day out ensure they are wearing a bright colured or distinctive top so when you scan a crowd you can see them easily.

Put stickers on their BACK ( like the ones at legoland )giving emergency contact number in case they get lost. If on their front they will fiddle with it .

Always have a small first aid kit with you , you may not need it but another Mum might . ( Only a couple of plasters, antiseptic wipes and cream )

tell them what white lights on the BACK of a car mean . Explain that the car is goin backwards , especailly useful in carparks and when cars reverse out of driveways oblvious to pedistrians ( sorry pet hate ) .

Dont keep telling them that Policema will lock them up if they are naughty , tell them that they are there to keep you safe and to help you . ( sorry another pet hate)

and finally

Dont be too over protective .

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Keep them away from curtains and tie backs. When DS4 was about 2 he was playing happily in the dining room/through lounge. I went out to hang the washing out, nowhere he could go/do anything bad. Went in calling his name, no answer, called for about 10 seconds more and went in to find him hanging, feet off ground, with his head through a tie back. He'd sat on the window sill, stuck it round his neck and slipped. Still makes my blood go cold.

When my dd is going anywhere in someone elses care (mainly nursery trips when there are a lot of children) I take a photo of her just before she leaves on my digital camera. That way if she goes missing I can remember what she is wearing.

This stems from a time she got lost in Asda when her gran was supposed to be watching her and in the panic I couldn't remember what she was wearing.

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teach them to... never touch a dog unless you have first asked its owner.

know their name, ncluding surname, and address/phone number, depending on age.

Walk places with them (means getting out of the car!!!), so that they have lots of experience of roads by the time they are big enough to go out by themselves. Telling isn't enough, they need to experience this to be able to judge distances and speed of cars etc.

Always take any knives and sharp objects out of the dishwasher as soon as it has finished its cycle.

Always check 'Which' for the best brands of car seats, buggies and other safety products. I am always shocked when I see people using car seats which are not safe...and the safest brands are not usually the most expensive.

Follow SIDS advice (ditto, am always shocked by people's resistance to it)

Make sure you children know you Not Negotiable Stance on safety issues from when they are very small - eg wearing seatbelts, bike helmets, holding hands on roads, stopping when you say stop. Never, ever compromise on these, and if they step out of line use your most special MonsterMummy voice, saved for occasions such as these.

Model safetly, eg, always wear your own seatbelt and wear a bike helmet.

Don't talk on your phone while you drive. Aaaargh! Its not rocket science!

Within safe limits, try to let you child experience the world so that they can learn good balance and their own limits. A few bruises are good for them as they experiment and learn about gravity!

When opening a stairgate I always open it onto the landing (if possible). I worry that if it is opened onto the stairs and has not been closed properly a child will lean on it and end up falling down the stairs.

Always put sharp knives into the cutlery holder of the dishwasher "blade downwards". (Or alternatively laid flat on the top drawer). A child was killed when he tripped over the DW door and fell on a knife blade.

apologies if this has already been said!

bathtime - never leave them alone for a second.
remove razors/scissors out of reach.
if they need to pee when in the bath, make sure you dry their bum before you put them on toilet seat so they don't fall off
no standing up dancing in the bath

stairs - stairgates.
teach them how to come down stairs on bum and when older to hold onto banister.

to always dry hand before switching light on/off

kitchen - keep away from oven (at all times - may just be cooling down and there's consistency). empty sharp kinives and any fragiles from dishwasher straight away.
if they are 'helping' with dishes mke sure there are no knoves in sink.

car - childproof locks on as soon as poss - my DD1 discovered she could open the door with her feet....

if you've a toddler and baby - put toddler in car first (baby can't go anywhere, toddler can). and toddler out last when you've arrived.

to stay where they can see me when out.

walking - hold hands when walking along roads or hold onto buggy (side furthest away from road).
teach them to stop at each crossing and look both ways for cars/bikes.
ask f they can pat dog and always hold hand out in front of dog so they can smell first)
if horses pass us never shout/get too excited - again ask if they can pat and never walk behind one

train station - always stand behind yellow line

keep all medicines out of reach

check toys regularly in case they are broken

....and have fun amongst all the rules

Bring up your children to be independant and self confident.

Teach them that there are good secrets and bad secrets and that a bad secret can be told to Mummy or Daddy, even if they have promised not to tell anyone.

Teach them to shout "NO! I do not know you!" and run away if approached by a stranger.

These are tips from our local policeman who gave a talk on preventing child abuse.

Let them take (controlled) risks, eg. allow them to go on climbing frame without standing at the bottom saying "careful" every 30 seconds. Children need to take risks so that they can develop and test their skills.

No running around with a lollypop in their mouth.