Author: Dr. Sandra Tsang
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration
“Children are precious.” Hong Kong has one of the lowest birth rates globally, making infants and young children particularly valuable. Unfortunately, years of child injury and mortality data indicate that unintentional household accidents are the main culprits in harming children. Common household accidents typically include crushing, pinching, falling, bumping, choking, scalding, burning, and poisoning:
- Crushing and pinching: Children can be injured when they pull down objects within reach or when unstable objects fall from a height. They can also get their fingers or toes stuck in gaps or small holes, posing a danger.
- Falling and bumping: Unsteady standing, climbing on objects, or tripping over objects on the floor can result in falls and bumps. Insufficient window guards have also led to multiple cases of children falling from heights.
- Choking: Objects entangled around a child’s neck, mouth, nose, or head, or small items inserted by the child into their mouth or nose, can cause choking.
- Scalding and burning: Contact with hot liquids, sources of fire, or easily accessible electrical facilities can lead to injuries. Hot water bottles placed on tablecloths or towels often scares children.
- Poisoning: Accidental ingestion of cleaning agents, medications, cosmetics, and other substances can cause poisoning. Additionally, when children come into contact with unclean objects, they can introduce bacteria into their bodies, leading to allergies or illness.
Improving home settings and ensuring home safety is a basic responsibility for parents.
- Establish a safe home environment. Parents are the caregivers and protectors of their children, as well as the heads of the household. Therefore, they have the right and obligation to create a safe, organized, and child-friendly environment that facilitates the development of good habits. Categorize household items and hazardous substances and designate separate areas for adult and child use, allowing children to learn to manage their belongings.
- Regularly inspect and maintain home safety. Families with young children are particularly active, and over time, previously safe settings can undergo significant changes. Therefore, regular inspections, returning objects to their original positions, and thorough cleaning are necessary routine activities to maintain home safety.
- Teach children to avoid safety hazards. As children grow, their active interactions with their surroundings increase. Instead of constantly intercepting their risky actions, a more fundamental and effective approach is to teach them to differentiate between safe and dangerous actions or settings based on their age. This empowers them to be more alert and make informed choices.
The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong conducted a localized validation study of the “Home Observation for Measurement for the Environment” developed by Caldwell and Bradley from September 2021 to August 2022. They interviewed over 250 local families and established eight indicators to assist social workers in objectively assessing the home environments of infants, toddlers, and preschool children. By working hand in hand with parents, they provide appropriate home environments. Interested parents can learn more about this.
