Council support for Child Safety Week

Hartlepool Borough Council is supporting the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s Child Safety Week which runs from June 4th-10th on the theme of “Together We’ve Got This!”

Statistics show that on average 3 children die and 2,000 attend hospital across the UK each week.

Child Injury Prevention Co-ordinator Joanne Andrews will be attending baby clinics and parent/baby groups in the town’s Children’s Centres throughout the week to give out information on issues such as burns and scalds, choking and strangulation, poisoning, falls, drowning and road safety.

She said: “Many accidents happen when parents are taken by surprise by the next stage of their child’s development, whether that’s a baby grabbing their mug of coffee or a small child copying what they do.

“Child Safety Week is designed to help families understand the risks as well as the consequences but, most importantly, it also aims to raise awareness of the simple ways in which accidents can be prevented.”

The week will conclude with the launch at Hindpool Children’s Centre of the Council’s latest Safe and Sound course for parents and carers. This is a discussion-led course that runs over 4 weeks and is based on sharing experiences and understanding of how accidents can be avoided by keeping the home environment safe and adopting achievable best safety practises.

Parents and carers can get more information on child safety issues and the Safe and Sound initiative by contacting Joanne Andrews on (01429) 284372.