Safe

Water

Water play is fun and a cooling relief in our hot summers, but never leave your child unattended for even a few minutes. A child can drown in a bucket of water by leaning in and getting stuck. Empty inflatables, shells and other temporary water storage devices when finished playing. Enclose pools and spas behind fences with locks, checking with your local Council for minimum fencing requirements. Provide barriers to water features and ponds. Keep hoses packed away to avoid strangulation. Learn resuscitation techniques and keep charts visible in pool areas. Enroll younger and older children in a swim course which also teaches water safety and awareness.

Bathroom

Stay with your child while they are in the bath, if on a stool at the sink or toilet training. Don’t leave to answer the door or phone unless you take them with you. Prepare for bath time before hand by turning on the answering

machine and the oven off. Use safety glass on shower screens and keep sharp or toxic items out of reach.

Hot water

Hot water can cause painful burns resulting in long term injury and scarring. Hot water taps and pipes are also a risk. Regulate the temperature of your hot water systems so that temperature delivered to all outlets throughout your home is below 50 degrees Celsius. Call a registered plumber if you need assistance. Keep coffee, tea, soups and hot drinks out of children’s reach. Avoid placing drinks on table cloths which children can pull. Keep handles of pots and kettles out of reach.

Pools

Watch children at all times. Swimming lessons.

Featured home safety resources

 Wherever you are in Australia, these featured resources are available nationally.

Please navigate through the subsections above to find more local or specific contacts.

National contacts

This is a brief list of organisations listed throughout the Safe section, which provide a national emergency or safety service. For specific services or to see what’s available in a local area please browse the subsections in the menu above.

000 Triple Zero emergency

Ambulance, Fire, Police

Poisons Information

24 hour

State Emergency Services

24 hour

Translating and Interpreting Service

24 hour

State and local areas

Alcoholics Anonymous

24 hour

Crime Stoppers

24 hour

Kids Help Line

24 hour

Lifeline

24 hour

Emergency contact list

View details and download

Also see >

Emergency and advice

– Contacts and resources

Healthy

– Counselling

Nurtured

– Relationships

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Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation Children's Guide acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.