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  • Ages and stages

    Ages and stages

    Many parents are taken by surprise by what their baby or toddler does next. So we encourage parents to stay one step ahead of their developing child, understanding what behaviours – and the accidents associated with them – may come next. Read more

  • Making sense of accidents

    Making sense of accidents

    Many accidents are a part of growing up. Children need to explore and experiment. But some children suffer the pain of serious accidents that can alter the course of their lives forever. Most of these serious accidents are completely preventable by making simple solutions or changes to routines. Read more

  • Safety equipment

    Safety equipment

    Safety equipment can help to create a safer environment for your child. It doesn’t replace the need for supervision, especially with younger children, but it can make protecting your child easier. Read more

  • Ages and stages
  • Making sense of accidents
  • Safety equipment
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  1. Safety advice

Main causes of accident and injury

Ages and stages

Ages and stages

Many parents are taken by surprise by what their baby or toddler does next. So we encourage parents to stay one step ahead of their developing child, understanding what behaviours – and the accidents associated with them – may come next. Read more

Published: 1st April, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Toddlers
  • Out and About
  • Babies
  • Under 5s
  • Key Ages
Burns and scalds

Burns and scalds

95% of all childhood burns and scalds happen at home. Most are caused in the day-to-day situations that many parents don’t anticipate, like children reaching for hot coffee or grabbing hair straighteners. Read more

Published: 30th September, 2018

Updated: 21st October, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Out and About
  • Under 5s
  • Practitioners
  • Burns and Scalds
Button batteries

Button batteries

Button batteries, particularly big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. Find out how to keep children safe. Read more

Published: 13th January, 2021

Author:

Related topics:
  • button batteries
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Button Batteries
  • Under 5s
  • Toy Safety
  • Burns and Scalds
  • Poisoning
Choking

Choking

Each day around 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous. Be particularly aware of sweet items such as mini eggs around Easter time - these are exactly the same size as a toddler's airway. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2019

Updated: 23rd February, 2021

Author:

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Out and About
  • Under 5s
  • Choking
Cycle safety

Cycle safety

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and active. However, whether it’s a young child cycling in the park on his first bike, or an older child cycling to school, cycle accidents are a real risk for children and young people. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2017

Updated: 9th April, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Out and About
  • Cycle Safety
  • Road Safety
Drowning

Drowning

For young children, there is a real risk of drowning in the home or garden, including neighbours’ gardens. As they get older, the risks are associated more with children exploring and challenging themselves around water. Read more

Published: 10th August, 2020

Updated: 28th September, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Water Safety
  • Out and About
  • Drowning
E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes

Babies and toddlers are inquisitive and learn about the world by putting things in their mouth. There's a risk of poisoning from e-cigarette liquid and, as with medicines and cleaning products, ecigarettes and e-liquids should be kept out of the reach of children Read more

Published: 23rd January, 2020

Updated: 11th March, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Poisoning
Electric shocks

Electric shocks

The good news is that children are at very little risk from electric shocks. Electrical sockets are designed to be safe. But electricity can be dangerous in other ways. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2017

Updated: 31st March, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Electric Shocks
Falls

Falls

Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury to children. While most falls aren’t serious – active children often fall over – some falls can lead to death or long-term disability. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2020

Updated: 12th August, 2020

Author:

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Practitioners
  • Falls
Fire Safety

Fire Safety

Families are almost three times more likely to die in fires that start in the night – if they don’t have working smoke alarms, they breathe in the poisonous smoke and never wake up. Read more

Published: 13th March, 2019

Updated: 11th March, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Fire Safety
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Burns and Scalds
Garden safety

Garden safety

From poisonous plants to weed killer, trampolines to barbecues, there are a number of potential hazards in the garden that parents should be aware of in order to make them safer places for children to play in during these months of confinement (and beyond). Check out your safety knowledge by trying our quiz. Read more

Published: 3rd April, 2020

Updated: 29th April, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Garden Safety
In-car safety

In-car safety

In-car safety can be a confusing area for parents and carers. You may find that you're not completely clear about the law, are unsure of the safest way for a child to travel, aren't using the most appropriate restraint or have badly fitting child car seats or booster seats which put a child at risk. Read more

Published: 18th January, 2019

Updated: 17th February, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Out and About
  • Road Safety
Making sense of accidents

Making sense of accidents

Many accidents are a part of growing up. Children need to explore and experiment. But some children suffer the pain of serious accidents that can alter the course of their lives forever. Most of these serious accidents are completely preventable by making simple solutions or changes to routines. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2017

Updated: 2nd April, 2020

Author:

Comments: 1

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • 5-7
  • Button Batteries
  • Nappy sacks
  • Water Safety
  • Toddlers
  • Electric Shocks
  • Blind cords
  • Out and About
  • Babies
  • Under 5s
  • Garden Safety
  • Toy Safety
  • Other Safety Needs
  • Fire Safety
  • Strangulation
  • Falls
  • E-cigarettes
  • Fireworks
  • 12-14
  • Drowning
  • Burns and Scalds
  • Suffocation
  • Choking
  • 8-11
  • Poisoning
  • Road Safety
Poisoning

Poisoning

Suspected poisoning is one of the most common reasons for young children to be taken to A&E. Every day, 15 young children are admitted into hospital because it’s thought they’ve swallowed something poisonous. Read more

Published: 24th August, 2016

Updated: 14th September, 2020

Author:

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Poisoning
Safety equipment

Safety equipment

Safety equipment can help to create a safer environment for your child. It doesn’t replace the need for supervision, especially with younger children, but it can make protecting your child easier. Read more

Published: 24th January, 2017

Updated: 29th April, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Out and About
  • Cycle Safety
  • Fire Safety
  • Falls
  • Equipment
  • Poisoning
  • Road Safety
Strangulation

Strangulation

Although strangulation is sometimes picked up in the news as a ‘freak’ accident, it is not uncommon. Babies and small children reach and grab for things that catch their eye, and this includes strings, ribbons and cords. They also get tangled in cords when climbing. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2017

Updated: 23rd February, 2021

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Toddlers
  • Blind cords
  • Babies
  • Under 5s
  • Practitioners
  • Strangulation
Suffocation

Suffocation

Babies and young children don't have the control that adults have over their bodies. They can wriggle and squirm but it is harder for them to move out of a dangerous situation. Read more

Published: 18th March, 2017

Updated: 23rd February, 2021

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Nappy sacks
  • Suffocation
Toy Safety

Toy Safety

While toys sold by well-known, reputable stores are generally safe, toys, novelty items and dressing-up clothes that you can buy in online marketplaces, markets or discount stores may not be. Take care and don't assume that, just because you can buy something, it must be safe. Read more

Published: 13th December, 2019

Updated: 25th November, 2020

Author: Kirsty Stephenson

Related topics:
  • Main causes of accident and injury
  • Home Safety
  • Button Batteries
  • Christmas
  • Under 5s
  • Toy Safety
  • Choking
Back to top

Showing 10 of 18

Latest

  • Safe with Sam Survey

  • Toddler’s tragic accident highlights the dangers of blind cords

    Toddler’s tragic accident highlights the dangers of blind cords

    A two-year-old boy has been strangled by a window blind cord, highlighting how important it is to be aware of blind cords safety in your home.

  • Magnetic toys – a warning to parents

    Magnetic toys – a warning to parents

    The worrying case of a three-year-old highlights a disturbing trend in serious injuries from children swallowing small, round, coloured magnets from magnetic toys.

  • Battery lodged in baby’s food pipe for four months

    Battery lodged in baby’s food pipe for four months

    11-month-old Sofia-Grace was rejecting solid food because she had a button battery lodged in her throat for four months. The outcome could well have been catastrophic.

Most read

  • Child Safety Week is here!

    Child Safety Week is here!

    Do you work with families? Download our free safety advice to share far and wide. We’ve got fact sheets, articles and activity sheets as well as our hugely popular Parents Pack.

  • Button batteries

    Button batteries

    Button batteries, particularly big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. Find out how to keep children safe.

  • Why are grapes so dangerous?

    Why are grapes so dangerous?

    Doctors have issued a stark warning that young children can choke to death on whole grapes.

  • Making sense of accidents

    Making sense of accidents

    Many accidents are a part of growing up. Children need to explore and experiment. But some children suffer the pain of serious accidents that can alter the course of their lives forever. Most of these serious accidents are completely preventable by making simple solutions or changes to routines.

  • Choking

    Choking

    Each day around 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous. Be particularly aware of sweet items such as mini eggs around Easter time - these are exactly the same size as a toddler's airway.

  • In-car safety

    In-car safety

    In-car safety can be a confusing area for parents and carers. You may find that you're not completely clear about the law, are unsure of the safest way for a child to travel, aren't using the most appropriate restraint or have badly fitting child car seats or booster seats which put a child at risk.

  • Burns and scalds

    Burns and scalds

    95% of all childhood burns and scalds happen at home. Most are caused in the day-to-day situations that many parents don’t anticipate, like children reaching for hot coffee or grabbing hair straighteners.

  • Parents

    Parents

    Our Parents Pack is full of quick wins that can help put you in charge of child safety, even when you’re feeling under pressure. Download your copy here.

  • Falls

    Falls

    Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury to children. While most falls aren’t serious – active children often fall over – some falls can lead to death or long-term disability.

  • Fidget spinners – a hidden hazard in the latest playground craze

    Fidget spinners – a hidden hazard in the latest playground craze

    Fidget spinners are the latest playground craze but doctors have raised concerns about cheap fidget spinners with LED lights powered by small button batteries.

Tag cloud

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Latest tweet

  • Shufflers, crawlers, toddlers, pre-schoolers, older children all stuck at home? By doing quick, regular room-by-r… https://t.co/LGmB9pg2Wy

    25thFebruary, 2021 @CAPTcharity
  • RT @KathEvans2: #Children love putting things in their mouths it’s how they explore the world, but if they put #buttonbatteries in… https://t.co/aYIEkrBFmb

    23rdFebruary, 2021 @CAPTcharity
  • RT @BBSANews: There are plenty of videos on https://t.co/E8TwvkQfV2 and on the BBSA's Vimeo channel about making old blinds safer… https://t.co/rqd249dWNp

    20thFebruary, 2021 @CAPTcharity

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Child Accident Prevention Trust
PO Box 74189
London E14 1SQ
United Kingdom
[email protected]
t. 020 7608 3828
f. 020 7608 3674
Registered charity no. 1053549

Child Accident Prevention Trust is a registered charity number 1053549 and a company limited by guarantee number 3147845. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office address: c/o PKF Littlejohn, 2nd Floor, 1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD. VAT registration no. 740387826.