Baby and toddler safety campaign relaunches

A Trading Standards campaign to help prevent babies and toddlers  from being injured at home is being relaunched on 6 June.

Every year in England 60 children are killed, 450,000 attend A&E and 40,000 are admitted to hospital as a result of accidents in the home.

The Buy Wise Be Safe campaign aims to prevent injuries by providing clear advice on ways to make the home safer  and what to look out for when buying safety equipment.

Originally developed by Trading Standards South West in 2005, the initiative was delivered across the region using a video pack through Sure Start centres.

From Monday (6 June) updated advice will be available through an interactive website.

This new website is divided into babies, crawlers, toddlers, running free and school children, so users can select the information relevant to the child’s development.

It will provide factsheets and interactive exercises to engage and educate users.

The website will also focus on the top unintentional injuries suffered by under 5s (Public Health England report 2014);  falls, burns and scalds, choking,  suffocation and strangulation, poisoning and drowning.

Advice on common injuries like strikes, crushes and jams are also included as are tips on buying new and second-hand equipment, and buying over the internet.

Buy Wise Be Safe Facebook and Twitter accounts and a smart phone-friendly website will provide guidance on the go.

All these platforms will go live on Monday 6 June  and are part of the week long launch which coincides with National Child Safety Week the same week (6-12 June).

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards, said:  “We fully support this excellent initiative and the resources it provides for parents, guardians and child care providers, in helping to prevent babies and young children from coming to accidental harm.”

Stuart Radnedge, from Buy Wise Be Safe, said:  “Buy Wise Be Safe has been an excellent project since its inception in 2005. The advice has, no doubt, been invaluable for new parents and carers around the South West and further afield.

“Using the digital technology the potential audience we can reach is huge. Used correctly, the advice we provide will hopefully reduce the number of injuries.

“Be sure to follow our Twitter and Facebook accounts to gain regular advice from the Buy Wise Be Safe team throughout the year and stay up-to-date with the latest guidance to ensure the products you purchase and use within the home are as safe as can be.”

From June 6 click here.

- See more at: https://www.devonnewscentre.info/baby-and-toddler-safety-campaign-relaun...