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Child Safety Week Reveals Parents Are Not Doing Enough to Prevent Accidents

Next week is Child Safety Week (20-26th June) and new research reveals that many parents are not doing enough to look after their children’s safety.
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This Child Safety Week (20-26th June) new research reveals that for many British parents, looking out for a child’s safety does not come as second nature. There are many important daily precautions which are needed to prevent serious childhood accidents, however fewer than half of parents are automatically taking steps to look after their children’s safety.

The research shows that eight in ten people (84%) carry out everyday tasks on autopilot, yet only a quarter of parents (26%) automatically store cleaning products out of reach of children and only one in five parents (21%) automatically strap their child into their highchair.

More than half the population (55%) travels to work on autopilot and over half the population (52%) has turned back unnecessarily on a journey because they couldn’t remember locking the front door. However, when it comes to preventing childhood accidents - only four in ten parents (43%) automatically move hot drinks out of reach of small children and only one in seven parents (15%) automatically tie up blind cords after opening or closing their blinds.

. Introduction:

The Child Accident Prevention Trust is calling on families to “take a second look for safety” during Child Safety Week (20-26th June 2011) so that preventing accidents becomes second nature. New research has revealed that despite eight in ten people admitting to carrying out everyday tasks on autopilot, fewer than half of parents are automatically taking steps to look after their children’s safety. Steps such as securely storing cleaning products away, strapping children into highchairs and moving hot drinks out of children’s reach are not second nature for the majority of parents in the UK.

So why are British parents not automatically taking precautions for their children’s safety?

Joining us to discuss this further is Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust and Parenting Psychologist Dr Pat Spungin.

. Suggested Questions:

So what does the research reveal about ‘autopilot’ habits in our area?

Why do you think some parents don't automatically take steps to help prevent accidents?

How can busy parents make use of everyday habits to help keep their children safe from everyday accidents?

When do most accidents happen in the home?

What does The Child Accident Prevention Trust hope to achieve this Child Safety Week?

Where can our listeners find out more information?