SELF-HELP PREVENTION: GENERAL POINTS
• Keep fires guarded. It is illegal to leave a child under 12 in a room with an unguarded fire.
• Keep pins, needles and scissors away from young children.
• Make sure bookshelves can’t be pulled over.
• Put electric flexes where people won’t trip over them but not under carpets.
• Replace flexes immediately if they are at all chafed or worn.
• Stand on something safe when dusting.
• Unplug the TV when going to bed or leaving the house.
• Never take the back off the TV or obstruct the ventilation slots.
• Keep all plastic bags away from children. This includes the inner sleeves of records.
• If you have young children, fit safety catches to all windows above ground level. Never leave
open without a safety catch a window in a room where a young child is playing.
• Never put mirrors over the mantelpiece. Clothes could catch fire while the wearer is looking
in the mirror.
• Don’t leave small objects lying around with small children about-they may swallow them
or put them in their ears or noses.
• Beware of catching fingers under sash windows and in doors.
• Never move an oil heater when it is alight. Position it where it cannot be knocked over.
• Electric convector heaters are safest for children’s bedrooms.
• When using paraffin heaters ensure that there is adequate ventilation.
• Close medicine containers and return them to the medicine cupboard at once after use.
• Don’t smoke in bed.
• Disconnect electric under-blankets before going to bed.
• Return electric under-blankets to the manufacturer for regular servicing. Never use one for
the very young or the old who wet the bed. They can, however, use electric over-blankets.
• Don’t leave sleeping pills by the bed – repeated doses can be taken accidentally.
• Loose mats should have non-slip backing strips.
• Never carry too heavy or too big a load up or down stairs. Keep a hand free to hold the rail or
banister.
• Use safety gates on the stairs with very young children about.
• Good lighting is essential-no dark corners.
• Don’t store rubbish or anything inflammable under the stairs.
• Never leave things lying on the stairs, and make sure the stair carpet is well fixed and has no
holes.
• Never meddle with gas or electrical installations. Call in an expert.
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