Month: May 2020

Lockdown as poised a challenge for parents/caregivers in looking after the children.  Due to lockdown, children are spending most of their time at home. Above all, the children are adventurous and certainly not have an understanding of the consequences of their activities.  So children are more susceptible to injuries. However, most of the injuries can be anticipated and avoidable. So it is essential to have a safe home environment to reduce the probability, possibility, occurrence, and brutality of injuries.

Causes of injury –

The most common causes of injury are falls, jammed fingers, poisoning, burns, and near-drowning.  In children aged one to two years, injuries at home are most common.  After two years of age the injury rate decreases.

The common situations interconnected to injuries include:

• Poor visual contact between the play areas and work areas

• Poor lighting, floor surface or tripping hazards

• Lack of supervision when parents or caregivers are busy or distracted.

Prevention of injuries –

The most essential safety precaution is supervision. Especially, when children are on balconies should be supervised all the time.

In the living area, provide safe play space.

Make sure dangerous items (medicines, matches, or lighters) are inaccessible.

Mount barriers to stop entry to dangerous areas.

Use safety products like electrical outlet plugs, window stops, and furniture straps.

While cooking, children are kept away from the kitchen.

In the bathroom, always remain within arm’s reach of your baby

Never reverse your car, until you know all children are safe

For more information –

https://www.cdc.gov/parents/children/safety.html

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/household-checklist.html

Bacteria and viruses are spread from children to children simply through touch and through the air. Infections occur due to the spread of bacteria and viruses. So it is important to stop the spreading of bacteria and viruses.

To stop the spreading of bacteria and viruses, good hygiene practices are important. Good hygienic practices are washing hands, encouraging children to cough or sneeze into their elbow, and not sharing the cups, cutlery, or personal items.

Washing hands –

Why? –

When the bacteria and viruses come in contact with hands, it is easily transmitted on touch. Once the bacteria and virus are on hands, they can get inside the body on touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. So to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, washing hands is an important good hygienic practice.

When? –

Washing your children’s hands and your hands are the best things to do to stop the spread of bacteria and viruses. Washing hands should be done before eating food, before feeding a child, before giving medications to a child, and before touching or holding a sick child. And also washing hands should be done after changing a nappy, after helping a child use the toilet, after wiping your child’s nose, after touching or holding a sick child, and after touching the pets or other animals.

How? –

First, wet the hands

Apply soap or hand wash and rub for at least 20 seconds

Make sure to rub in between the fingers, under fingernails, around the thumb, bank of hands and wrists

Rinse the hand and dry

Others –

Follow other good hygienic practices like encouraging the child to cough or sneeze into their elbow and to use tissues instead of hankies.

Key points to remember –

It is important to hand wash regularly to prevent the spread of infection

Wash hands for at least 20 seconds

Follow other good hygienic practices

More information –

https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=1981&language=english

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hand-washing.html

https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/importance-of-hand-washing-for-kids-infographic

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Hand_Hygiene_why_is_it_so_important/