Child Safety - Cuts and Bleeding

Children can cut themselves with knives, broken delph or glasses, scissors, razors (even safety ones) etc. Take action now:

• Use cupboard locks so that children cannot get to breakable household items.
• Use drawer locks so that children cannot get to knives, scissors and any other pointed or sharp items.
• Keep knife blocks out of sight and reach of children.
• Keep razors out of sight and reach of children.
• Learn some basic first aid skills.

 Lawn mowers
Children can suffer devastating injuries from contact with lawn mowers (both ride-on and push mowers).

• Children should be kept indoors when the lawn mower is being used. If this is not possible, they should be supervised closely by a second adult.
• Loss of digits (for example fingers, toes) can happen easily. If this does happen, place any severed digits into a plastic bag, place the bag into a container of ice, and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.
• Remember danger comes not just from body contact with the blades or motor - blade speed can also eject an object at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
• Find out more by reading Lawn Mower Safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

First Aid for Cuts and Bleeding
	Clean the cut - use cold running water.
	Stop the bleeding - apply light pressure with a clean cloth or pad until bleeding stops.
	Cover the cut.
	Take the child to your GP or hospital if in doubt.  If bleeding heavily, call an ambulance.

Most unintentional injuries (often called accidents) can be prevented:

Remember the key message where child safety is concerned -
Watch your child at all times, as children do not understand danger

Go to:

• Child Safety Main Page
• Child Safety Topics ~ A-Z

_{Image: Mountfield Lawnmower by Gary Turner (Flickr Creative Commons)}