How safe will your children be this summer?

Date article online: 20/06/2006

As part of National Child Safety Week (19-25 June), Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are issuing a warning to all parents and guardians highlighting the common dangers faced by young children during the summer months.

Each summer the fire service sees an increase in the number of incidents involving young children and quite often these incidents end in tragedy. Children are naturally adventurous and don’t always realise the dangers they are putting themselves in.

Rochdale Borough Commander Dave Astley, said:  "Accidents involving young children don’t always happen to someone else’s family.  Make sure you warn your children about the possible dangers and don’t ignore inappropriate behaviour."

Reduce the risk of accidents occurring by following the simple guidance below:

• FIRES Keep matches and lighters away from children. If we have a sustained dry period then children setting fire to rubbish and grass can result in fire crews attending minor incidents that not only damage the natural and local environment but potentially delay fire crews in attending more serious life threatening fires.
• WATER AWARENESS Make sure your children are aware of the dangers of swimming in ponds and rivers. The temperature of inland water does not vary much throughout the year. The water in Britain is still very cold in the summer and people can quickly become affected by the cold putting themselves into difficulties, tragically too many children drown every year. Swimming should always be confined to a supervised pool with life guards.
• DANGEROUS BUILDINGS Children climbing onto factory roofs and other buildings put themselves in great danger; all too often this results in the fire service attending a fatal incident to assist paramedics in gaining access to buildings where children have fallen through the roof.
• MALICIOUS CALLS Hoax calls tend to increase during the summer months, remember Hoax calls cost lives!!! A fire engine cannot be in two places at one time. If we are responding to a Hoax call it means we may be delayed in responding to a life threatening emergency.
• BARBEQUE SAFETY Keep children well away from barbeques, there have been recent instances when children, whilst playing, have run into barbeques and suffered burns. NEVER use petrol to help light a barbecue.
• ROAD SAFETY The age group most at "Risk’ of being involved in an accident are children aged between 5 – 14 years of age, with the highest casualty rates occurring with children aged 12. As a minimum please ensure your children know how to cross the road safely, have taken a cycling proficiency course and always wear a seat belt when travelling in a car. ALL cyclists should wear a properly fitted cycle helmet.