To ensure your child is safe at home you have to anticipate danger before an accident happens. It is possible to prevent accidents by simply being vigilant and removing your child from danger whenever it arises but young children need to explore their world without someone constantly dragging them away from the most interesting places.

You may think your home is safe but children can be injured by everyday things that seem harmless.

• Never heat up a baby's milk in a microwave. It may heat the milk unevenly and some parts may become very hot. Stir up baby food thoroughly if it is heated in a microwave.
• Put cold water in the bath or sink first and then add the hot water to the required temperature. Check the temperature before putting your children in the bath.
• Do not set the thermostat for the hot water too high in case children turn on the hot tap.
• Never let children drink a hot drink through a straw
• Never drink a hot drink with a baby or child on your lap.
• Use a coiled flex on your kettle to stop dangling. Water in kettle stays hot enough to scald a child for up to an hour after boiling.
• Put the iron away after use and never leave flex dangling. Avoid distractions when ironing when children are around.
• Use the back rings on your cooker and keep saucepan handles turned inwards
• Keep young children out of the kitchen unless they are fully supervised.
• The front of the oven and even the washing machine can become very hot, enough to burn a young child. Keep them away.
• Use a full sized fireguard around a gas, electric or open fires. Be cautious with radiators. Do not dry or air clothes on fireguards.
• Use mats not tablecloths so children can't pull hot food and drinks down.
• Keep teapots and cups away from the table edge. Don't have hot drinks on the floor where children could pull them over and don't carry hot drinks over a childs head.