In winter, when it is cold and rainy and we tend to spend more time at home, it is important to be careful with a number of rules to prevent children’s injury.
At Home
- Protect children from hot fluids such as hot chocolate, coffee, tea or soup, which could cause burns. It is recommended to place cups of hot beverage on high tables, and put them at the center of the table, far from the edges.
- Bar heaters, gas heaters and fan heaters could cause fire and burns. It is recommended not to use them, but rather to heat using a radiator or air conditioner.
- Avoid drying children’s clothes, and clothes in general, on heating devices, which could cause a fire.
- Keep heating devices away from flammable objects such as: sofas, blankets and curtains.
- A smoke detector can save lives. It gives warning in case fire breaks out - the seconds in which the smoke detector detects the fire are critical, and make the difference between life and death. These seconds allow time to escape from the fire, or time to extinguish it. It is recommended to install smoke detectors both in the living room and in the bedrooms.
- When the children are using a laptop computer, make sure that it is not placed on such soft surfaces as a mattress or blanket - the computer needs ventilation openings.
- In the winter, there is more illness, and consequently, there are usually more medicines at home. Make sure to return medicines to their place immediately after use, and keep them in a high place, out of the reach and sight of children. Do not leave medicines on a table, on a dresser or in a bag.
Outdoors
- When there is a storm, power lines can be brought down, and they can be damaged when trees and branches are brought down. If you come across trees or poles that are unstable and could fall, or downed power lines, keep away from them and make sure that children do not get close to the area, and report it to the municipal call center or to the Israel Electric Company.
- Safe walking - in winter, it gets dark early. Make sure to wear light colored clothes and use transparent umbrellas in the evening hours. When the street is wet - remind children to be wary of slipping and not to run.
- In winter when it is raining as well, it only takes two minutes - make sure to put children in infant car seats appropriate to their age and weight, and make sure to take off children’s coats before fastening them in the car seat.
Information by courtesy of the “
Beterem” association for child safety.
