Child Safety Week kicks off today: do you know all the facts about keeping your child safe from everyday accidents in the home?

Today marks the first day of child safety week, and the message by the organisers, the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), this year is: ?Make a change, make a difference?.

Running until Friday 29 June, Child Safety Week is marked by thousands of local events where families can learn about home safety and kids can have fun. Schools, Sure Start centres, playgroups across the UK will be teaching parents and children the dangers of the home.

Accidents in the home are the biggest cause of injuries to children under five with more than 30,000 rushed to casualty each year after falling down a flight of stairs. Hot drinks are the number one cause of scald injuries among young children. Around 70 children less than five years of age end up in hospital emergency departments every day as a result of suspected poisoning.

Katrina Phillips, chief executive of CAPT says: “Many accidents in the home could be prevented by making simple changes – whether it’s fitting a stair-gate or making sure that hot drinks, electrical appliances and cleaning products are out of children’s reach.

“Any parent who knows what it’s like to have a child injured in the home is, unfortunately, in a better position to avoid a harrowing trip to hospital and need less reminding how risks change as youngsters grow up,” she added.

CAPT with its partners is encouraging families to participate in Child Safety Week events and to visit its website http://www.capt.org.uk for useful safety hints and tips.

“Preventing child accidents is an important regional public health priority. Children must continue to be protected from avoidable accidents and injuries and this aim must be embedded in the work of those who provide public services,? said Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director of Public Health, Department of Health West Midlands.

Parents can also obtain a set of safety advice leaflets by sending a stamped addressed envelope (27p) to Child Safety Week Leaflets, Child Accident Prevention Trust, 22-26 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AJ, stating the age of their child in the bottom left-hand corner.