Smart Parent Safe Kids

April 15, 2011


Stay Smart, Stay Safe

We cannot be watching our children 24/7, but practicing basic accident prevention measures can save parents a lot of anguish.


Ever wondered where the phrase ‘Home Sweet Home’ came from? Originating from a popular song in the 19th century, the phrase today has become an icon to everything that is good and safe about home.

But wait - the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) reports that accidents are the number one health hazard for children and cause more than one-third of childhood deaths between the ages of one and fourteen. This number is more than the total amount of deaths caused by five leading fatal diseases, making it the largest cause of disabilities in children below the age of one.

So while we embrace the concept of Home Sweet Home, are we also holding true to the principle of Home Safe Home?


Making the home safe

“Accidents can happen to anyone anywhere,” says Dr Cheah Choong Wooi, consultant pediatrician from Columbia Asia Hospital - Bukit Rimau. “But when parents and caregivers are more mindful of the potential dangers in their home and surroundings, children are less likely to get hurt.”

Most accidents tend to happen at home because that is where parents and caregivers tend to let their guard down. Familiarity does not necessarily spell safety, as some parents find out (sometimes too late). Recent cases of deaths resulting from home accidents such as being crushed by a falling television or table, strangulation from curtain strings and choking from milk bottles are tell-tale signs that parents are not paying enough attention to child safety.

One of the most overlooked aspects is that child safety tends to be age-specific. “The most common home accidents happens to children aged between one to four, because a child below nine months does not have the fine motor skills to pick things up and put them into his mouth,” explains Dr Cheah

After the age of one, they would be inquisitive and active. This is when they would attempt to climb chairs and stairs, pull on dangling wires or taste everything they can get their hands on. Cases of scalding and falling are most common for children of this age group.

At three to five, they would be curious about their own bodies. Dr Cheah has had his fair share of treating bawling children who are brought in by ashen-faced parents for having stuffed things like paper, coins, small batteries or tudung pins into their ears or noses.

Sometimes parents would suspect their children of swallowing a foreign object and insist for an x-ray to confirm their suspicions. What they may not know is that only metal objects will show up in an x-ray. In these cases, the child will be referred to a gastroenterologist, who will conduct a scope and try to fish the object out.

The most common home accidents are actually falls, both on flat and raised ground. The level of injury would depend on the height of the fall. “Baby walkers are not encouraged because they are the most common cause of falls. Parents with babies aged 4-6 months who are just learning to turn over should also be careful about placing their babies on raised surfaces such as sofas and beds,” adds Dr Cheah.

What can parents or caregivers do when an accident happens? The first thing to do is not to panic, he advises. Calm the shocked child and perform the necessary first aid measures. “Recall what happened and document your first aid measures. The more specific your description, the easier it is for the doctor to recommend treatment,” says Dr Cheah.

So how can we make our homes safer for children? Unfortunately there are no set answers.

“You know your child best. For example, stair gates may be helpful for a one-year-old but for a ten-year-old, it can be more detrimental if it’s being used to climb. Research on what is appropriate for your child and take 30 minutes to go through your home to make those changes,’ he advises.


Hidden dangers at playgrounds

Apart from the home, the playground is another area where parents and caregivers tend to lax because they are in a relaxed mode. Instead of keeping a watchful eye over their children, they are often chatting, texting or reading, notes Dr Saiful Akhtar, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Columbia Asia Hospital - Bukit Rimau.

Dr Saiful sees the most fractures during the school holidays. “Usually, children are not really aware of how certain equipment is supposed to be used. Parents and caregivers ought to show them and caution them about potential dangers,” he says.

Movable equipment is just as dangerous as non-movable equipment as they are subject to weather conditions as well as wear and tear. That is why parents need to survey a playground first before allowing their children to play there.

The key word is ‘active supervision’, stresses Dr Saiful. “Trust your gut feeling. When you see a lot of rusty and broken equipment, go somewhere else. And when supervising, sit in clear view, not behind a bush or tree where you can’t see your child.”

As playgrounds regulations are unclear and maintenance are often poor, many playgrounds pose safety hazards to users. Examples include animal feces in sandpits, drains and roads that are too close to the play area and not having soft rubber padding. Although playgrounds are supposed to be places for children, youths and adults may also frequent them, leaving unsafe elements such as cigarette butts, broken glass or leftover food lying around. Children who run around bare-footed may get injured stepping on broken glass or slipping on rotting food.

A child who suffers a fracture would need to spend the next 3 to 6 weeks in a cast. This spells many days lost from school and for the parents, from work. Family life is also disrupted when one child needs to be hospitalized. Sometimes fractures, especially hairline fractures, go unnoticed because the only symptom is a little swelling. What happens if they are left untreated?

They will still heal by themselves, says Dr Saiful, but may cause the limbs to be deformed if the fracture happens too near to a joint. “A misaligned joint at the legs may cause a limp, whereas deformity at the hands means you can’t play sports or write well,” he cautions.


Water dangers

You might already know that one can drown in 3 inches of water and so you empty all your buckets or keep water barrels covered. But imagine this - the drain at the bathroom is blocked and there is a piece of soap on the floor. You or your child falls, hits the head and passes out. If you or your child happened to fall face down, there is high possibility of drowning.

“Parents can never be too careful when there is water around,” says Lee Soon Keong, a Lifesaving Trainer from Life Saving Society Malaysia (Perak branch). “Whether you have a koi pond or an Olympic-sized swimming pool in your home, you must not leave children unsupervised because they might get into trouble when you are not looking”.

He warns that apartments and condominiums with swimming pools usually do not have certified life-guards, and security guards or cleaners act as ad-hoc lifesavers. “I was at a pool once when a boy got into trouble in the swimming pool. The security-cum lifeguard, instead of doing something to help, ran away out of fear!” he relates.

55% of all drowning cases happen just 10 feet away from land, says Lee. Out of these, 42% happen just 6 feet away from land. One thing most people are unaware of is that ‘you don’t have to be a swimmer to be a life saver’. He explains, “If a drowning person is within reach, lie down on your stomach and reach out your hand. Don’t do it standing up, or else you might fall into the water too”. If the drowning person is too far away, use a branch, broom-stick, shirt or any floating object to draw him/her to land. Conduct CPR if the person is unconscious.

With rapid increases in drowning cases over the years, Lee stresses that everyone should have water safety knowledge especially on what to do in the event of a drowning. The Life Saving Society (Malaysia) has branches nationwide where the public can go for courses and swimming classes.

While it appears that danger lurks in every corner of the world, it is impractical for parents to keep their children cocooned.

“What’s important is being aware and taking the necessary precautions so that severe injuries and death can be minimized,” says Dr Cheah. Dr Saiful and Lee agrees. “Childhood is a wonderful phrase of life. Making sure we keep our children safe will allow our children to enjoy their childhood and experience happy memories that will last a lifetime,” says Dr Saiful.


Columbia Asia Hospital-Bukit Rimau