Public Health Agency Backs Child Safety Week with Practical Home Advice | #childsafety | #kids | #chldern | #parents | #schoolsafey

During Child Safety Week, which runs from 1 to 7 June, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging families to implement simple, practical measures to help maintain child safety within the home.

The annual campaign highlights how small, everyday actions can make a meaningful difference in cutting down the risk of accidents, particularly for younger children. The theme for this year’s initiative, ‘making prevention possible’, emphasises straightforward steps and minor behavioural adjustments that can significantly decrease accident risks.

Unintentional injuries persist as one of the leading causes of death and serious injury amongst children in Northern Ireland, with children under five years old facing the highest risk. Within this specific age bracket, 90% of hospital emergency admissions are caused by five common hazards: choking, suffocation and strangulation; falls; poisoning; burns and scalds; and drowning.

Whilst these risks can appear overwhelming, Child Safety Week seeks to demonstrate that prevention is both effective and achievable. Often, it is minor modifications to familiar environments and routines that deliver the greatest impact.

Diane McIntyre, Lead for Health and Wellbeing Improvement at the PHA, said: “Preventing accidents doesn’t always require big changes — simple, practical steps taken every day can help protect children and reduce risks significantly.

“We know that life with young children is busy and full on, and it is impossible to supervise every moment. Creating a safe home environment can help ease that pressure. Simple steps — like keeping potential hazards out of reach or taking a quick look around — can help make everyday spaces safer for everyone.

“Small actions — like keeping hazards out of reach or checking your surroundings — can have a real impact.

“On average, two people in Northern Ireland die each week due to accidents at home. Alongside these deaths, around 17,000 people are admitted to hospital following accidents in a domestic setting — many of them young children.

“Child Safety Week provides a valuable opportunity to raise awareness among families, communities and organisations about the potential hazards in everyday life. Whether it’s a blind cord near a cot, a button battery left on a coffee table, or the risk of hot liquids; dangers can arise quickly. Taking a few moments to reduce these risks can help prevent accidents before they happen.”

The PHA funds the Home Safety Check Scheme, which is delivered across Northern Ireland by 11 local councils. The scheme offers free home safety checks to families with children under five, vulnerable individuals, and older adults. These checks provide tailored safety advice alongside free safety equipment, subject to assessment and local availability.