By June Cheong

Your home may not be as safe for your child as you think.

Last year, there were 10,600 accidents at home involving children - four times the number of school accidents.

Dr Arif Tyebally, registrar at the department of emergency medicine at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said that head and facial injuries were the most common.

Common scenarios included falls from being left unattended on an adult-sized bed, falls from chairs or tables and falls related to the use of baby walkers and sarong cradles.

Dr Chew Su Yah, from the department of paediatrics at the National University Hospital's University Children's Medical Institute, said: 'Supervision and child-proofing homes are the best ways to prevent injuries. Teaching children about safety and responsible behaviour is also necessary.'

Mind Your Body takes you on a danger-spotting house tour and shows you how you can child-proof your home.

Living room

• Fit windows with locked grilles Ensure tables and cupboards do not have sharp edges by using corner guards
• Protect electrical sockets with covers
• Keep fragile and easily overturned objects like vases, lamps and fish tanks out of the reach of young children
• Install baby gates to prevent access to stairs

Kitchen

• Keep the floor free of grease, water and soap
• Use back stove burners or stove guards when cooking and keep handles of pots and pans containing hot liquids facing inwards
• Household cleaners like bleach and sharp objects like knives should be kept in locked cupboards

Bathroom

• Toilet-seat covers should be set down to prevent toddlers from falling in head first and drowning
• Standing water in bathtubs and buckets, even if only 2cm deep, is dangerous for unattended children

Bedroom

• Do not give babies soft pillows, toys or bolsters as they may bury their heads in them and suffocate
• Avoid sarong cradles as they can cause head injuries to babies when the sarong is violently shaken, improperly secured or when the baby falls out
• Poorly secured cot sides or mattresses that are too high may lead to babies falling out of the cot

Pool

• Children under five should be constantly supervised by an adult who should accompany the child into the water and remain within arm's reach at all times
  

KK Women's and Children's Hospital will hold a public forum on children and playing on July 19 from 2 to 4.30pm at its auditorium on Level 1, Women's Tower. The registration fee is $5, including refreshments. For more information, log on to www.kkh.com.sg or call 6394-5038

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on July 9, 2008.