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  Love Your Child, Prevent Injuries (0 - 1 year) Download

Is your baby safe? Injury is a major child killer. Many children are killed or disabled by injuries every year. To protect your baby from injuries, beware of his/her behaviour and remove all potential risks.
Children aged 5 or below may not understand or remember what is dangerous. Parents should not over-estimate their ability. Statistics show that the home is the most common place of injury in children aged 0 to 5 years.
Common injuries in infants aged 0 to 1 year: Babies usually make their first attempt to reach out and grasp objects by their 4th to 5th months. When lying on their back, they try to roll from side to side, or even turn over. They will soon be able to sit, crawl and stand. Before long, they will learn to walk and explore the surroundings. Some infants may develop faster than others.
Infants below the age of one do not have the ability to look after themselves. Therefore, it is very important that parents understand how to prevent injuries and take appropriate preventive measures. Common injuries in infants below the age of one include falls and scalds.
Common injuries and preventive measures: Infants like to crawl and roll over. Settle them safely to prevent falls. 1. Falls Never leave a baby (of any age) alone on a diaper changing mat, an adult bed or a sofa. If you are not free to look alter your baby for the time being, place him/her in the baby cot or playpen.
Raise and lock the side rails securely after putting your baby in the cot. Secure the safety strap and safety lock after putting your baby onto a stroller or baby carriage, baby walker or highchair.
2. Scalds To prepare water for bathing your baby, put cold water into the tub before adding hot water. Then, mix the water well and test the temperature with your elbow. Test the temperature of milk or any hot food that you are going to feed your baby to make sure it won't scald. Avoid heating milk or other baby food with the microwave oven because microwave-heated food or drink is not of even temperature. Although the surface of the food or drink appears moderately heated, the inside is often a lot hotter. This could scald the baby's mouth or throat.
Don't put hot food or drink near the edge of a table. If there is hot food on the table, remember to watch your baby closely. Treatment of scalds: Pour cold water over the wound to cool it down, Then wrap it in a piece of clean cloth or bandage, Do not spread oils, toothpaste, butter or cooking sauces over the wound. Do not wrap it in adhesive dressings such as band-aids or fluffy cloth.
Put hot drinks out of infants' reach. 3. Injuries in the kitchen Install a gate at the kitchen door so that children cannot get in. Settle your baby in a safe place (such as the baby cot or playpen) before you do your cooking in the kitchen. Babies aged 4 months or above reach out for objects. Therefore, do not carry them on your back whilst in the kitchen. Babies reach out for objects. Don't let them in when you cook.
Conclusion: Most injuries can be prevented. What parents have to do is to be vigilant and learn more about childhood development so as to take preventive measures. Parents should keep an eye on what children are doing at all times. Never leave them at home alone or put them in the care of an older child.
Parents who need occasional child care services could approach the Occasional Child Care Service or Mutual Help Child Care Centres of the Social Welfare Department. For information or enquiries, please refer to pamphlets of the Social Welfare Department or contact its Child Care Centre Advisory Inspectorate. Tel: 2835 2725
For more information on health, please call our 24-hour health education hotline (Cantonese, English and Putonghua) at 2833 0111 or visit our web site: http://www.cheu.gov.hk For animated information on protection children from injuries, please visit the web site of the Hong Kong ChildHealth Foundation at http://www.childhealthhongkong.com For prevention and first-aid treatments of home injuries, please visit the web site of the Hong Kong Childhood Injury Prevention and Research Association at http://www.childinjury.org.hk

 
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Last revision date: 01 September 2006