Accidents

Front 1

Cooking fires

Back 1

Fires involving cooking equipment account for two of every five reported home fires. Unattended cooking equipment accounts for one in three fires, and half are ignited by fat, grease, oil, or related substances, according to the National Fire Protection Association. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, take a minute to bone up on these safety tips to avoid accidents. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling. If you are simmering, baking or roasting, remain at home and check the food often. Set the timer as a reminder. Keep anything that can catch fire—pot holders, towels, food packaging—away from the stovetop. Always keep a lid nearby to smother small grease fires by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the burner. If a fire starts in the oven, turn it off and leave the door closed. If the fire gets out of hand, leave the house and call 911. Keep a fire extinguisher with a minimum 5-B:C rating on hand.

Front 2

Drowning In Private Pools

Back 2

The Royal Life Saving Society's annual drowning report recorded 271 deaths due to drowning last financial year, with 26 of those of preschool-aged.That was a 30 per cent increase on the 20 young children who died in the previous year, representing one in 10 drowning deaths."Children under five are actually the age group that is most at risk of drowning and the majority occur in and around the home — commonly in home swimming pools."Ms Peden said it was a tragic reminder for parents to be vigilant around water by remembering a number of simple rules."Active adult supervision, watching children whenever you're in or around the water, restricting their access to water and — this is most pertinent with the home swimming pool — and making sure that it's properly fenced," she said."And water awareness — taking children to water familiarization classes and setting rules so they don't go near water without an adult."At the other end of the scale, adults over the age of 55 made up the largest number of drowning deaths for another year in a row.Ms Peden said it was important for older people not to underestimate water conditions and to go swimming with a companion who can help if they get into trouble.

Front 3

Hazardous Toys

Back 3

Parents will be checking toys and games for sharp edges or choking hazards before giving them to their children this Christmas. But, according to trading standards officers, the biggest risk of injury posed by toys comes from people tripping over them. Officers say that the proportion of dangerous items on sale is low. Instead, several thousand accidents are caused by falls or children throwing toys at each other.Officers have offered a series of safety tips for parents. They include giving toys a "good pull and prod" to ensure they do not come apart. Parents should also dispose of packaging and ensure that the toy is appropriate for the age of the child. Among the most important tips, they say, is to use a toy box to clear away toys after play to reduce the risk of tripping over them.