Hazard/accident Developmental characteristics Preventive measures

Aspiration Aspiration is more Avoid placing infants

common in infancy, younger than 6 months in
particularly in babies who a seated position for
are premature, but it can approximately 90 minutes
occur at any time in after a feed. Do not feed
childhood. Premature the infant within 90
babies are at a higher risk minutes before bedtime.
for aspiration Elevation of the head of
because their ability to the bed approximately
swallow is not completely 30° may help, although
developed, and they may young infants may slide
not be able to produce a down the bed during the
coordinated and timely night.
Swallow.
Falls Babies can fall from raised Be aware of your baby's
surfaces like beds, change risk of injury from
tables and high chairs. falling: Never leave your
Children can fall from baby unattended in high
furniture, windows and places, such as on a
balconies and down tabletop, in a crib with
stairs. Slippery baths are the sides down, or even
also risky. This guide has on a bed or sofa. Don't
detailed tips for leave your baby
minimising falls risks in unattended in any infant
your home. seat or "sitting" toy, such
as a swing or jumper. Use
all the safety straps
provided.
Suffocation Children can suffocate if Always lay an infant down
something covers their on their back on a firm
nose and mouth. This can mattress. Never place an
happen when your baby is infant on soft surfaces
asleep, presses their face such as comforter, fluffy
against material or if rug, or soft mattress.
something clings onto Never put an infant down
their face. Suffocation can on a mattress covered
happen when a child gets with plastic. Keep
caught between the blankets, pillows, stuffed
mattress and the cot or animals, or plush toys out
bed. of the crib.
Burns Children are at increased Avoid hot spills. Don't
risk for serious fire and cook, drink, or carry hot
burn injuries and death beverages or foods while
 because they have holding a child. Keep hot
thinner skin than adults. foods and liquids away
This results in more from table and counter
serious burns at lower edges. Don't use
temperatures. Most burns tablecloths or place mats,
and fire injuries and which young children can
deaths happen in the pull down.
home.
Motor vehicle accident High-risk situations may The infant car seat should
include the always be placed in the
following: Lack of the use back seat of the
of child safety restraints automobile and secured
or improper use of safety with seat belts. Infants
restraints in motor should sleep on their back
vehicles. Improperly used to lessen the risk of
or installed child safety Sudden Infant Death
seats. Placing children in Syndrome (SIDS). Sleeping
front of passenger seat air on an infant's stomach or
bags (either in an infant side is not recommended
safety seat or sitting because of the risk of
facing forward). sudden unexpected
death.
Drowning It can happen silently, and Empty water containers
within seconds. Infants immediately after use
don't have much neck and
muscle control. If even a Whenever they're not in
small amount of water use, be sure to
covers their nose and completely empty any
mouth, they won't be liquids in containers such
able to breathe. as: buckets and pails used
Remember: Never leave for cleaning or painting.
your baby alone or in the wading pools.
care of another young
child in or near water—
not even for a moment.
Poisoning children in particular face You can put child-
a greater risk for resistant locks on most
unintentional poisoning cupboards. Leave all
death and exposure than chemicals, medicines and
adults. This is not only cleaning products in their
because they are smaller, original containers. Never
but also because they transfer poisons into food
have faster metabolic or drink containers. Don't
rates. They are less able put chemicals like
physically to handle toxic detergents, paint thinners
chemicals. and weed killers into
empty soft drink or juice
bottles.