BANGALORE: Eight-month-old Krishna suffered a gash on his head when he hit a sharp edge of a wooden trunk. He was rushed to hospital and his wound was dressed. Thankfully, he did not need any stitches.

Doctors say that over 90 per cent of accidents involving infants occur at home. Stools and unlocked drawers with sharp edges cause a lot of trouble. Care should be taken to prevent accidents, M. Sridhar, a paediatrician, says.

He says parents need to take steps to ensure that their house is safe for children. He suggests they cover electrical sockets with tape to prevent small children from poking their fingers into them. Cords and cables have to be kept out of reach of children to prevent them from wrapping these around the neck and getting strangulated. The cords of blinds and curtains need to be tied up and put beyond children's reach.

Danger from faucets

Paediatrician Rama Krishnaswamy says she advises parents to cover sharp edges of tables besides faucets in bathrooms. "Even if a child hits his head against them, he will not be hurt," Dr. Krishnaswamy says. Doctors say that drawers should be locked to prevent children from accidentally pulling one down and hurting themselves.

If this is done, children will not be able to reach small objects which pose the risk of choking.

Doctors also advise parents not to use strip carpets as a child learning to walk can slip on them.

Detergents

Poisonous items and household detergents need to be kept away from children's reach. Indoor plants should be checked to ensure that their leaves are not harmful.

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