Tips on infant safety

Dr Douglas Street, Contributor

Babies are usually the most vulnerable members of our households as they are physically and mentally underdeveloped. They, therefore, cannot recognise or protect themselves from danger. They are frequently brought for medical attention due to injuries, some of which are quite serious and often avoidable. What can be done to protect them?

Most babies have sustained a fall, usually from a bed, at some time or another. Usually, it happens because the baby is mobile enough to reach the bed's edge. If the child is to be left unsupervised, even if sleeping, ensure he is secured by safe barriers and cannot move. Also, if the child is mobile, unsafe areas such as stairs must be secured.

Young children often get burns as well. To minimise this, avoid leaving hot objects and liquids accessible to them, for example, at the edge of tables, especially when there is a tablecloth. Do not handle hot liquids with a child close by. Try not to leave the child unsupervised if there is a hot-water pipe in the bath. Also, ensure water is never hot enough to burn. Keep pot handles turned inwards.

Make cribs safe

A crib can be a dangerous place for a child. To minimise the danger, ensure that there are no soft objects in the crib like pillows, stuffed toys, and bumper pads. Also, put the baby to sleep on his back. Ensure the mattress is firm and fits the crib tightly. There should be minimal space between crib rails, and no unsafe surfaces in the crib. Also, check to ensure there are no accessible strings on the crib and that there are no accessible plastic bags.

It is dangerous to let a baby sleep on an adult's bed as there are no rails and they can be smothered by a sleeping adult.

Drowning is another pervasive threat. The risk can be limited by keeping the bathroom and/or toilet bowl locked. Bucket/basins with water should not be accessible to young children. Babies should not be left unsupervised while being bathed, and pools - even temporary ones - should be secured.

Dangerous chemicals must be kept locked away and preferably not at ground level.

Choking is another frequent occurrence. Ensure foods that are hard or about coin-size are inaccessible to children, toys do not pose a choking hazard and do not have strings, and keep balloons out of reach.

In addition, walkers are to be avoided as they frequently cause accidents, and use an appropriate child seat.

Dr Douglas Street is a general practitioner and has private practices at Trinity Medical Centre, Trinity Mall; 3 Barnett Street, Montego Bay; and Omega Medical Centre, Plaza de Negril, Negril. Send feedback to drdougstreet@yahoo.com.