Child safety away from home

The first place to start when thinking about and teaching road safety is to lead by example.

Children will copy what they see you doing. When crossing a road you should make it obvious you have stopped and checked it is safe first. CAPT have useful information on:

• Introducing younger children to pedestrian safety
• Helping older children to think about road safety
• Being visible as a pedestrian

Brake has tips for prams and pushchairs safely on or near roads. These include:

• Make sure your child is strapped in safely. Keep the pram away from the edge of the road when you are waiting to cross.
• Use a wrist strap when walking on a hill. If you accidentally let go the strap will stop the pram from rolling away.
• If you also have an older child with you, teach them to hold on to the pram.

For further general pushchair safety, take a look at the babycentre website. They have a list of things to check to make sure your pushchair is safe.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust say you can start to teach the Green Cross Code from around five years old. The Green Cross Code has 6 simple steps to ensure you cross the road safely:

1. Think
2. Stop
3. Look
4. Wait
5. Look and listen again
6. Arrive alive

Take a look at the Green Cross Code to understand each step in more detail.

Zebras is a website for children to find out more about road safety. It includes:

• Videos and games
• Activity and colouring sheets
• Stores

Brake, as well as championing Road Safety Week each year, supports and helps people:

• who are bereaved and seriously injured by road crashes
• to be community champions for safe and healthy mobility
• to campaign for safe streets and the rights of road victims

Brake's Knowledge Centre provides information and guidance on all aspects of road safety.

Cold weather brings new risks for children. The Child Accident Prevention Trust's Winter Safety Guide has practical advice to help keep your children safe and prevent serious accidents this winter.

Tips include:

Flu season

• Keep medicines out of children’s reach.
• Avoid steam inhalation; it can cause burns.
• Cough sweets can choke children under 6.

Out and about

• Wear bright clothes so drivers can see you.
• Take extra care crossing roads and allow more time for journeys.
• Avoid bulky coats in car seats – they can affect the straps and safety.

Cold weather hazards

• Store antifreeze safely out of reach.
• Teach children never to walk on frozen ponds or lakes.

Staying warm safely

• Use electric blankets correctly and check for damage.
• Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Keep hot drinks and hot water bottles out of the reach of children.

Keeping babies warm

• Avoid hoods and head coverings indoors.
• Move cots away from radiators.
• Do not use novelty sleeping bags; they can be unsafe.