To coincide with National Child Safety Week (21st 27th June) Halifax Estate Agents has taken a look at how to make your home more 'child friendly' by investing in safety measures to help lower the shocking accident rate among children in the home.

On average three children die every week as a result of a home accident but despite this many people spend large sums renovating and decorating their new property without really looking into child safety.

Every year more than one million children are taken to hospital after suffering an accident in or around the home, according to figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Those most at risk from a home accident are children aged four and under, with most of these accidents being preventable through increased awareness, improvements in the home environment and greater product safety. Falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents, while the highest number of deaths is due to fire.

Jane Pridgeon, managing director of Halifax Estate Agents, said:

"The safe haven that is home can be full of hidden dangers, with accident prevention often seen as common sense. Fully childproofing your home is impossible, but it is worth taking practical measures such as installing smoke detectors and stair gates to prevent injury.”

"Taking simple safety measures doesn't need to cost the earth, and there are a number of high street stores that specialise in selling and giving advice on safety equipment."

For example, a safety starter pack including cooker control guard, cupboard locks, a video protector and electrical socket covers costs from £10, while a quality stair gate starts at around £30. Playpens, which start at around £40, are excellent for keeping young ones at bay while parents carry out their duties.

However, some of the best child safety messages are free and many straightforward ideas can have a big effect on safety in the home. The Child Accident Prevention Trust will be highlighting this issue during Child Safety Week 2004, which runs from 21st to 27th June.

Jane Pridgeon added:

"Whilst it is impossible to totally childproof a home, it is important that adults are aware of the risks to their children at each stage of their development. Children grow, become more inquisitive and learn new skills rapidly and it is important that the adults who care for them know what risks each stage brings.”

"The knowledge of the potential for accidents and of effective safety measures can equip adults with the basic information they need to reduce the risk of serious injury.”

While falls account for more than 40 per cent of all home accidental injuries to children, the second most common problem usually needs a trip to hospital - to remove a foreign body which has been swallowed, inhaled or stuck elsewhere. More than 50,000 children visited hospital in 2002 for this reason, 40 per cent of whom were aged between five and 14.

Burns and scalds make up the next most common child accident with 37,000 hospital visits in 2002 followed by suspected poisoning.

Most accidents happen in the lounge, living or dining room, which probably reflects where young children spend most of their time. The next most common places in the home for accidents are the kitchen, bedroom and stairs. Simple precautions can lower the household risks to a child.

In the kitchen: Check your kettle has a short or curly flex; never leave a chip pan unattended and make sure it is no more than a third full better still, use oven chips; check all cleaning products are stored out of sight and reach, and in cupboards with child-resistant catches; when cooking try and use the back hob-rings of your cooker and make sure pot and panhandles are out of reach.

In the bathroom: Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bathroom; check all medicines are out of reach and kept in cupboards with child-resistant catches; check cleaning products are out of reach and never left on the floor.

Halls, stairs and landings: Check safety gates are kept closed at the top and bottom of stairs as soon as your baby shows any signs of crawling; check stairs are free from clutter; make sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home; check windows in all rooms are kept locked or fit safety catches to stop them opening more than 10cm.

Outdoors: Make sure children can't get on to roads; ensure garden ponds are filled in, covered or fenced off; check paddling pools are emptied immediately after use and put away; lock balcony doors when not in use; check play equipment regularly for loose nuts and bolts and make sure it's positioned over something soft such as a mat or well-watered grass; check garden chemicals and tools are locked away and attended when in use; clear up dog and cat deposits.

Safety and Child development

Children differ in their rate of development but the information below is a guide to development stages: