HOME HEALTH GUIDE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 84, 24 September 1947, Page 4

HOME HEALTH GUIDE

DEATH AND INJURY BY ACCIDENT (By the Department of Health) All the trouble we spend on the care of our children from infancy onwards can disappear, tragically, in a flash unless we are careful. Most of the accidents to children could be avoided. Let’s have a look at the main causes of accidents which take such a grim toll of young life.

Burns. The child reaches for hot things on the stove or is burned when hot liquids are spilled. Others receive surface burns through touching stoves, irons, electric heaters and hot objects. Poisons. Children become very ill or die not only from taking common poisons such as insecticides, caustic soda, and disinfectants, but also from overdoses of medicines left .within their reach—especially sugar coated or brightly coloured pills.

Falls. Infants left unattended often fall out of bed. Little tots fall down steps left unguarded, or climb on sills and fall out the window. Wounds. Knives and o + her sharpbladed or pointed, kitchen instruments should not be within the child’s reach.

Internal Injuries. These usually result from the child’s playing with toys with detachable parts that are easily swallowed. Injuries From Foreign Bodies. Pins, bobby pins and the like are hazard to the young children, who swallow them or stick them in eyes and ears.

Suffocation. Babies may get tangled 'in their bed' coverings if these are too loose, or burrow into the unsafe type of pillow, or get rolled on and smothered when in bed with an adult.

Drowning and gunshot wounds also take a big toll. Its our business to see that these hazards are eliminated entirely. They can be, and must. They cost too many lives.