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Staying safe on holiday

If you’re about to head off on your summer holiday, spare a thought for safety away from home. Whether you’re staying at a hotel or visiting family, any new environment presents a potential safety hazard to your baby, toddler or preschooler.

While you’ll have made every effort to ensure that your home is safe, especially once your baby gets mobile, don’t expect to find those same safety precautions wherever you’re staying. If you’re visiting grandparents they may well have long forgotten how industrious young children can be when it comes to getting hold of things they shouldn’t have, whereas friends who haven’t yet started a family will be totally clueless about just how many small objects your baby spies as she crawls around, and just how high your toddler can climb!

Matters may be complicated if your relatives or friends have pets – a crawling baby or excitable toddler or preschooler is at risk from any pet, even if the pet is usually friendly and well behaved. You’ll also need to ensure your child is safe outdoors.

Follow gurgle’s tips and keep your child safe…

* If you’re staying with friends, ask them to stow breakables and small
objects that could be choking hazards up high out of your child’s reach.

* If you’re visiting elderly grandparents, remind them that any medications
they’re on will need to be locked away.

* If Grandma is fond of knitting or sewing she needs to make sure that sharp
needles and scissors are placed out of reach.

* Ask for friends or relatives who smoke to make sure they don’t leave
cigarettes and matches where your child can get them.

*        Ask for pets to be kept in a separate room from your child and for any litter
          tray or pet feeding bowls to be kept outside the house for the duration of
          your visit. Make sure your child doesn’t approach the pet when it’s eating or
          try to play with any of its toys.

* Look out for things that might harm your child – for example, trailing window-
blind cords, stairs and water sources such as the toilet or pool.

*        Take your own safety gate with you if you know the home you’re visiting has
          stairs – it will also come in useful in a hotel to block your baby’s access to
          the bathroom (it’s also worth taking along plug socket covers and a toilet
          lock).

* If you’re staying in a hotel make sure your baby can’t access the refrigerator
and that the TV is inaccessible. Unplug the coffeemaker and hairdryer.

* Tuck any loose cables or wires out of sight and reach and lock the windows
and any doors that lead out onto balconies.

* If you’re outside, keep an eye on your child at all times.

*         If you’re staying in a villa with a pool you’ll need to be particularly vigilant.
           Ensure that external doors are closed and always secure the pool
           gate. Never leave your child near the pool without you there, even if he can
           swim.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 23/06/2009

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