Safety tips for a right royal barbecue

Now that Kate and Wills have finally tied the knot, all of our patriotic bonhomie is likely to find expression in sun-soaked get-togethers this bank holiday weekend.

And as we all know, good weather and fine company can mean but one thing: barbecues!

Without wanting to pour water on your hot coals, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t warn you about some of the hazards involved in cooking al fresco.

With just a few simple preparations, families can easily avoid the burns, scalds and cuts that threaten to get in the way of a good time.

Rarely does a year go by without reports of serious injuries being sustained when something goes wrong at a barbecue. Last time accident figures were collected on a national level, around 1,800 people visited A&E in the UK having had an accident involving a barbecue.

Of those people, around 800 had suffered a burn or scald, and 200 had suffered a cut. The vast majority of these accidents (1,400) happened at home, with 300 occurring in a public place.

Barbecues should be fun, and will be safe if you prepare properly. Here’s how:

• When choosing a barbecue, stability is essential – ensure the one you choose is strong and sturdy
• Check the barbecue is in good condition (particularly if you have not used it for some time); look for loose or damaged parts requiring adjustment or repair
• Consider the location – level ground, away from fences, sheds and overhanging trees, which have been known to catch fire
• Never light a barbecue in an enclosed space
• Prepare the barbecue early to ensure it is at the right temperature by the time you want to cook
• Particular care should be taken in hot, dry weather to reduce the risk of starting a grass fire
• Never pour petrol, meths or other accelerants on to a barbecue. Some of the most serious barbecue-related accidents happen when people do this and the barbecue “explodes” in their face
• Use long-handled tools and be careful of steam when opening foil parcels – it can cause a nasty scald
• Remember that the metal parts of a barbecue can become hot – don’t try to move it until it has cooled down
• Don’t leave children unsupervised near a barbecue
• Make sure the barbecue is fully extinguished before you leave it
• Take care when getting rid of a disposable barbecue, or barbecue coals – ensure they have cooled down before placing them in a bin.

If you are planning to have a barbecue in a public place, the same precautions apply but also ensure that you are allowed to barbecue at the location you intend to use – and never leave the barbecue unattended.

Okay, preachy bit over. Now, where did I put that relish?

Michael Corley

RoSPA’s Campaigns Manager

Dying to cool off in the warm weather?

After months of feeling cold and looking pale, many millions of us Brits will be champing at the bit to get out and about during the first spell of decent weather.

Though the mercury has recently raced its way up the old thermometer, we’d do well to remember that water temperature is still lagging a good way behind. As such, those refreshing-looking rivers and lakes are still going to be pretty b****y cold during the bank holiday season.

So much so that attempts at “cooling off” in the blazing sun might literally take your breath away – and land you in all sorts of difficulties.

And that’s not just me being a scaremongering spoilsport. Look at the stats.

Accidental drownings peak dramatically during spells of warm weather, particularly when clement conditions coincide with weekends or school holidays.

Inland waters, such as rivers, lakes, lochs, canals and reservoirs, are the most common locations for accidental drowning.

In fact, figures from the National Water Safety Forum show that in 2009, 405 people died from accidents or natural causes in water across the UK, and, of these, more than half (213) died as a result of incidents in inland waters.

Having said that, RoSPA’s mantra isn’t “thou shalt not” but rather, “thou might want to heed some advice to make an informed decision”.

You can’t beat being out and about during nice weather. So here’s what we say to anyone who’s listening:

• Swimming at properly-supervised sites, such as beaches, lidos or swimming pools, is best, although RoSPA appreciates that not everyone can go to these locations
• If you choose to go to an unsupervised site, think through the hazards first and ensure you know what to do if something goes wrong
• Among the hazards to consider are that during this warm weather, water will be a lot colder than you are expecting so be careful if you jump in or go for a swim to cool off. Also, there may be strong currents and underwater debris that you cannot see from the bank
• Consider how you are going to get out of the water once you are in it
• Be honest about your swimming ability
• Remember that alcohol and swimming never mix
• Parents and carers: discuss the hazards with your children and remind them that children should never swim alone at unsupervised locations.

See RoSPA’s Water Safety for Children and Young People factsheet for more top safety tips – including advice about rescuing someone who gets into difficulty.

Michael Corley

RoSPA’s Campaigns Manager

Safety at level crossings – stating the obvious?

You’d think so, but at RoSPA we often hear of people being seriously injured or killed on railway crossings, while in their vehicles or as pedestrians. These are preventable accidents, and while rail operators have a responsibility to ensure that crossings are safe and in good working order, those who use them also need to ensure that they do not misuse level crossings – after all, no matter whose fault an accident is, the motorist or pedestrian is always going to come off worse.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has recently produced a guide to using level crossings safely aimed at pedestrians and motorists. We at RoSPA were asked to provide comments on the guide during the consultation period in 2010, and we have been involved in a review of Level Crossing law that is currently being conducted by the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.

The new guide is aimed at anyone who uses level crossings, including: pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, horse-riders and people who work in rural areas. It covers specific rules governing use of level crossings, as set out in the Highway Code, and gives general easy-to-understand advice for those who may have to use them.

A summary of the advice is below; the full Using Level Crossings Safely Guide is available on the ORR’s website.

Using crossings safely

It’s important to remember that trains have much longer stopping distances than road vehicles – often longer than the train driver’s view of the line ahead. The general advice is that if you see or hear a train, don’t cross, and remember that trains can come from either direction.

Safety at level crossings largely depends on people recognising the dangers and obeying instructions: if you do not follow the instructions given, you are putting yourself, other users, railway staff and passengers at great risk. You could also be prosecuted.

Drivers and motorcyclists

Not using level crossings correctly – for example, ignoring traffic light signals or trying to beat the barriers – is very dangerous.

• Take extra care when approaching and using level crossings
• Never pass over the STOP line and drive onto a crossing until the road is clear on the other side
• Never stop or park on a crossing

If your vehicle breaks down or you cannot keep going or get off a crossing:

• Get everyone out of the vehicle and off the crossing immediately
• Use the phone at the crossing (if any) to tell the signaller and then follow the instructions you are given
• Only move the vehicle off the crossing if there is time to do so before a train arrives. If the alarm sounds, or the amber light comes on, leave the vehicle and get off the crossing immediately.

You must follow the rules below:

• Obey road traffic light signals and road signs
• Avoid overhead electric lines by obeying any height-restriction warnings. Do not move forward onto the railway if your vehicle touches any height barrier
• Obey any sign that says you must use a phone at the crossing to get permission to cross. Phone back when you are clear of the crossing if you have been asked to do so.

And – particularly importantly – if you are using a sat nav, do not just blindly follow its instructions! Take note of your surroundings; if it looks like you may end up on a railway line, think carefully about what you do next. Take a look at this story from 2007…

Other users (for example pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders and people who work in rural areas)

Take special care when crossing railway lines at level crossings, especially crossings along footpaths, bridleways and other rights of way where there are no barriers or railway staff. In particular, pay attention to the following points:

• You must obey instruction signs, warning lights and alarms
• Before you reach the crossing remove hoods, earphones, headphones or any device that could stop you from hearing a train approaching. Remember that modern trains are quiet and weather conditions such as high winds and fog can reduce your ability to hear or see a train approaching
• Keep children close to you. Do not let them run or wander off – and similarly, keep dogs on a lead. Do not follow an animal that strays on to the line without first checking it is safe by contacting the crossing operator or signaller where possible
• If there are no barriers or lights, stop, look and listen, then look again before you cross
• If it is safe to cross, cross quickly, taking care not to slip or trip on the track. Stay alert while you are crossing the track, and do not stop on the crossing
• Take particular care if the surface of the crossing is not smooth, and make sure that wheels of bicycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs do not get trapped in the space between the crossing surface and the inside of the rail
• When in a group, don’t just follow the person in front. Everyone should take responsibility for their own safety and stop, look and listen for themselves before deciding it is safe to cross
• If you are crossing in a group, or you are riding a horse, use the phone if there is one
• If you are crossing in a group of cyclists, there is no phone and you need to open and close gates yourself, you should dismount
• You must obey any sign that says you must use a phone at the crossing to get permission to cross. Phone back when you are clear of the crossing if you have been asked to do so.

Much of this advice and information may seem obvious – but there are still far too many deaths occurring at level crossings, so it is clear that the message has not reached everyone.

The new guide can be viewed and downloaded online on the ORR’s website; RoSPA’s response during the consultation is available for viewing on the RoSPA website.

Kevin Clinton

Head of road safety at RoSPA

They are thought to bring good luck and prosperity, but are causing nothing but nuisance to Coastguards and farmers.

Sky Lanterns, also known as Chinese Lanterns, are thought to bring good luck and prosperity to those releasing them, but concerns have been raised by the maritime authorities of lanterns that have been released near the coast and drifting out to sea, being mistaken for distress flares.

Last year a sighting of a suspected distress flare was investigated between Bexhill and Pevensey, on investigation it was recognised as a Chinese Lantern. All sightings of red flares which are sent up by boats in distress are investigated by local coastguard volunteers. False alarms are a waste of valuable resources which could also put others in danger, for these reasons coastguards ask that anyone releasing lanterns near to the coast alert them beforehand so to avoid any confusion if possible.

With economic cuts everywhere public services such as the coastguard cannot afford to waste resources pursuing false call outs. RoSPA urges everyone using these items to consider their responsibilities in these respects – a quick phone call to the coastguard to advise them you’re going to release Chinese Lanterns could save a lot of time and money.

As lanterns are a relatively recent phenomenon in the UK there is limited evidence of incidents that may have been caused by them. However, they are fast becoming a popular addition to weddings and parties, and in the middle of wedding season and with Bonfire Night fast approaching the number of incidents is likely to increase.

Research has found that high quality lanterns when used according to instructions were generally safe in relation to fire safety, but, there are many poor quality lanterns, which lack sufficient safety and operating instructions. A recent survey carried out by BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and skills) and trading standards services throughout the UK, found incidents where property (e.g. fences, garden furniture, roofs, hedges) had been either damaged or destroyed, or the lanterns had caused death or injury to livestock.

Non-biodegradable lanterns often include metal parts which upon descent are discarded into the surrounding countryside. If not noticed by farmers, those parts of the lantern may end up in livestock silage or feed which, when ingested, can cause considerable and sometimes fatal harm to livestock. There have been reports of incidents involving several cows and at least one horse.

At present the department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) do not feel that a ban is necessary but hope that retailers and importers in the UK will take the lead and demand that the lanterns they purchase from manufacturers are 100% biodegradable (no metal wires), that they come with a high quality fuel source; and they have comprehensive operating and safety instructions.

These products are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which is enforced by Trading Standards Services across the UK. For more information about these products, the regulations or safe bonfire night procedures go to www.bis.gov.uk or www.rospa.com.

Phil LeShirley

RoSPA’s product safety adviser

True grit: don’t blame the victim, solve the problem

With the debate about whether or not to wear cycle helmets in the news once again, RoSPA asked Carlton Reid, the executive editor of BikeBiz.com and editor of BikeHub.co.uk, to contribute a guest blog.

I’m a pro helmet anti-compulsionist.

I wear a helmet because I’m a mountain biker too and it’s now pretty much standard equipment off-road. I’ve also raced in the past and helmet-use is a requirement for any form of racing. Hopefully, when road riding, I don’t go quicker or more recklessly because I’m wearing a helmet.

My three kids (11, 13 and 11) have always worn helmets and two still do. The third is now getting more fashion conscious and she prefers to wear a hat rather than a helmet. I don’t force the issue, she’s old enough now to realise concrete and tarmac are quite hard and unforgiving.

Cyclists are united by their love of cycling, but are very often divided over the sometimes vitriolic subject of helmets. But I don’t think my bicycle helmet will save my head should I be unlucky enough to be hit by a speeding car.

Polystyrene is tough, but it’s not that tough. Helmet manufacturers are very careful when it comes to claims about the efficacy of their products. They have to be: if they overstated the effectiveness they could be held liable in those cases when, sadly, cyclists have been badly injured or killed while wearing protective head gear.

Most bicycle helmets are designed for falls to the ground from one metre at speeds of 12mph. They offer almost zero protection in collisions between bicycles and fast-moving cars.

Riding safely is the best form of protection.

But the way some in the mainstream media portray bicycle helmets you’d think polystyrene was a magical material with amazing force-field capabilities. It’s very common for news reporters to mention the use – or non-use – of helmets when describing car v bike fatalities. Recently, a TV news report from Carolina in America had this awful headline: “Cyclists involved in deadly accident not wearing helmets”.

The first paragraph of the news story said: “Investigators say Trey and David Doolittle were not wearing protective helmets at the time of the car accident…that killed both cyclists. Highway Patrol Trooper B.R. Phillips says David Doolittle was wearing protective gloves as well cycling shoes and spandex but neither cyclist had on head protection.”

Trey and David Doolittle were killed by a drunk driver, likely doing at least 55mph. The driver did not brake before he hit the cyclists. He would have carried on driving had he not been stopped by a motorist who witnessed the crash. The TV reporter does not reveal how polystyrene would have protected this father and son, out on a training ride.

This media focus on helmets is classic victim-blaming. And it’s not just a media problem. A 2007 study found that motorists give lid-less cyclists more room when passing, suggesting that many motorists believe cycle helmets offer serious protection.

Bicycle helmets are by no means the most important safety intervention. Physical barriers to prevent motorists hitting cyclists, now that’s more like it. But such infrastructure is expensive. It’s far easier and cheaper to focus on making cyclists wear plastic hats rather than build safer routes for cyclists.

In the Netherlands, such separated infrastructure is common and use of helmets for such an ordinary, everyday activity of cycling is negligible. As this video from the winter of 2010 shows, cyclists who fall from their bikes at slow speeds don’t tend to hit their heads. Shot in Lelystad in the Netherlands, cyclist after cyclist in the two minute video falls to the ground when tackling an icy corner. None are wearing helmets.

One woman nearly hit her chin and a few people might have risked wrist damage but, while it’s an unscientific sample, none of the fallen cyclists came anywhere near to hitting their heads. In this particular case, the best safety intervention would have been to spread grit to melt the ice.

Carlton Reid is the executive editor of BikeBiz.com and editor of BikeHub.co.uk, a website for new cyclists funded by a bicycle industry levy fund. He’s also on Twitter.

http://www.bikebiz.com

http://www.bikehub.co.uk

http://www.twitter.com/carltonreid

RoSPA’s advice

RoSPA recommends that cyclists wear a cycle helmet that meets a recognised safety standard. Cycle helmets, when correctly worn, are effective in reducing the risk of receiving major head or brain injuries in an accident. They do not guarantee protection, nor prevent accidents from happening in the first place, but wearing a cycle helmet is a simple, low cost and effective way that individual cyclists can protect themselves.

A cycle helmet cushions the head in a fall, providing a last line of defence between your head and the ground. It reduces the force of an impact before it reaches your head and brain. The hard outer shell spreads the force of a blow over a wider area than the initial impact site.

Choosing a cycle helmet:

• Try the helmet on before buying it
• Make sure you like the type and style
• Check it has a CE mark and meets at least one recognised Standard: BS EN1078:1997 (European Standard) Snell B.95 (American Standard)
• Make sure it fits comfortably and securely
• Check that the straps are easy to do up and adjust
• Ensure it stays in place on the head when the straps are fastened
• Make sure it does not obstruct vision
• Ensure it does not cover the ears
• Check that it is well ventilated
• Ensure it comes with clear advice for the user.

Remember:

Helmets do not prevent accidents. An accident can still be very serious, even when wearing a helmet. So be just as careful, look around for traffic, dress brightly and follow the rules of the road.

And most importantly of all, RoSPA urges drivers and motorcyclists to ensure they keep a proper look-out for vulnerable road users like cyclists, and to watch their speed, particularly in residential areas and around schools.

Take a look at RoSPA’s cycle helmet information.

Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire launch the Make it Safe campaign

I started off at the Scottish Borders launch at Newtown St Boswells on March 11, which was attended by some of the partners who will be distributing the cleats.

Officers from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were present, as was Paul Richardson who works for Scottish Borders Council Safer Communities Team. Thanks must go to Paul for organising this launch and being a key figure in the Borders campaign.

Councillor Alec Nicol (Chair of the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Partnership) was also in attendance and gave his full support to the campaign. Councillor Frances Renton, who is Chair of the Scottish Borders Childcare Partnership also supported the launch and will play a key role in spreading the safety message whenever possible.

Make it Safe leaflets and cleats will be distributed throughout nurseries in the Borders, and children from the playgroup next door to the launch came to visit, and happily stood for a few photos with us:

L-R: Councillors Alec Nicol and Frances Renton and Jennifer Henderson of RoSPA

South Lanarkshire launch

The Make it Safe launch from First Step Community Nursery in Hamilton on March 17 was attended by the partners who are making up the steering group:

• Margaret Brunton, South Lanarkshire Council’s home safety officer
• Sandy Gillespie, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue’s group commander community safety
• John Gold, Care and Repair
• Maggie Barrie – head of establishment at First Step Community Nursery.

It was really good to meet all the partners at the launch, as well as parents and grandparents of local children who came to visit. Everybody who attended was so enthusiastic about the campaign and was thankful for being invited to the launch – and one of the parents and one grandparent got more than they bargained for when they ended up on film for South Lanarkshire Council’s YouTube page!

There were lots of lovely cakes on offer which kept us all going in during the launch itself, the photographs that were taken and our stints behind the camera for YouTube. The link to their YouTube site is http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthLanarkshireTV.

It’s really gratifying to see that the campaign is being embraced so enthusiastically – and it appears to be very successful in raising awareness. An evaluation of the pilot project that took place in North Lanarkshire should that 63 per cent of cleats had already been fitted in homes at the time of the survey.

Since receiving the Make it Safe information, 60 per cent of respondents said they were now unlikely to buy any blinds with looped cords, while 43 per cent of respondents were not aware of information on blind cord safety before they received the Make it Safe information.

Perhaps most crucially, 69 per cent of respondents have gone on to discuss the risks of looped blind cords with other parents or carers.

It’s vital that we keep the topic front and centre in the field of home safety, because blind cords are such an innocuous everyday item that it wouldn’t occur to most people that they could be a danger. Thanks to everyone for all their hard work!

Jennifer Henderson

RoSPA Scotland’s Home Safety Officer

Safety-related news stories from this week

HOME SAFETY

Blind cord death – A toddler has died after becoming tangled in the looped cord of a vertical blind in a bedroom of his home in Plymouth. The youngster, aged 21 months, was found strangled early on Friday evening. It is thought he had reached the window space after climbing on to a chest of drawers. (Plymouth Herald). Meanwhile, RoSPA’s blind cord safety campaign is featured in the Sunday Mercury – encouraging more parents to apply for free Make it Safe packs.

The Sunday Mercury reported several house fires at the weekend. Two men died at their home near Nottingham on Saturday morning, while a woman suffered the effects of smoke inhalation after a fire ripped through her farmhouse in Ross-on-Wye. In addition, a disabled pensioner was saved by her dog after it woke her up as flames spread through her Nottingham home. They both escaped unharmed. A 33-year-old man and his six-year-old daughter have died after a fire in the kitchen of their family home in Telford. It is thought the fire started in the kitchen and may have burnt itself out. An investigation is underway. (D. Telegraph / Metro)

Boy, 14, choked on memory stick cover – RoSPA is quoted in the Yorkshire Post, which reports on the death of a 14-year-old boy in Beverley last December. He choked on a memory stick cover, Hull Coroner’s Court heard. Verdict: accident.

ROAD SAFETY

Football star banned from the road – Birmingham City footballer, Marcus Bent, has been banned from driving after he was caught speeding at 110mph on the M5, near Oldbury. He was banned for 56 days and ordered to pay £1,210. (Sunday Mercury)

Coach in nine-vehicle crash on motorway – The M11 motorway was brought to a standstill yesterday after a crash involving four lorries, four cars and a coach near Stansted Airport. An elderly coach passenger is in a life-threatening condition, and there were several minor injuries. (Nationals)

The Daily Express reports that Jon Snow was knocked off his bicycle in central London last week when a driver opened his car door without looking, sending him crashing to the ground. He escaped with a sore elbow and sore ego; but was much cheered a few days later, saying: “The chap who knocked me off my bike has sent me an exceptionally good bottle of wine. I could build quite a cellar this way.”

Elderly driver’s wrong turn causes panic on motorway – An 87-year-old man from Lockerbie caused panic on the M6 in Cumbria after driving for six miles down the fast lane in the wrong direction. When police eventually managed to make him pull over and off the road, somewhat surprisingly they released him without further action. (D. Telegraph)

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

In nuclear news – The Daily Telegraph reports that Japanese school playgrounds in the Fukushima area are to be tested for radiation as children return to classes in the aftermath of the nuclear crisis. The Independent says that the Japanese government has set its first radiation safety standards for fish after contaminated water was released into the sea. The Guardian reports that the UK Government’s plans to build new nuclear power stations will be delayed by at least three months so that lessons can be learned from Fukushima.

Fire engines stop attending some alarms – The Daily Telegraph reports that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has stopped sending its engines to investigate some alarms in order to cut costs. It will test a new procedure which will see a fire safety officer alone responding to some automatic alarms to cut the “significant drain on resources” caused by false alerts. This seems reasonable when you read:

25 firemen sent to save cat – When a cat became stranded on a roof, the local fire service dispatched five appliances and 25 firemen to rescue it. The decision, apparently driven by rules for “working at height” is thought to have cost £10,000 – although Suffolk Fire Service says it was no more than £250. Suffolk County Council defended the action, claiming it was in line with health and safety rules. (D. Telegraph / Metro)

Graduate left brain damaged after 999 crew waited two hours – A 33-year-old woman was left with severe brain damage after she was forced to wait nearly two hours for paramedics, who were parked just 100 yards away. Because the address had been red-flagged as “high risk”, a crew just seconds away was ordered to wait for a police escort before attending. (D. Mail)

Hero boys defy 999 operator to rescue man from icy canal – Two friends, aged 19 and 20, saved a drowning man by ignoring the health and safety advice of the ambulance service and jumping into a freezing canal in Bristol. They called 999, and attempted to reach him with a stick, but the man was too far away and kept going under, so they boys jumped in and saved him. (D. Express)

M&S “exposed shoppers to deadly asbestos” – Marks and Spencer failed to protect customers completely from asbestos during the refurbishment of branches in Plymouth, Reading and Bournemouth, Winchester Crown Court heard. M&S denies six charges of failing to ensure the health and safety of its staff and others. The trial is expected to last up to 15 weeks. (D. Telegraph)

Battle over £100,000 trip – Tower Hamlets Council, which is being sued for up to £100,000 by a woman who tripped over an uneven paving stone, is fighting the case, insisting it is not obliged to keep the pavement “like a bowling green”. The 31-year-old woman from east London tripped over in 2005, injuring her knee, and has apparently “endured disability”. (D. Telegraph)

LEISURE SAFETY

Woman dies after blading fall – A woman died after suffering brain injuries in a roller blading accident. The 44-year-old fell backwards during her first outing on in-line skates, striking her head on a footpath in Darlington. She was not wearing a helmet. Though she had two emergency operations to remove clots from her brain, her family made the difficult decision to turn off her life-support machine at the weekend. (Times)

Surfers’ paradise lost as “danger reef” shuts – An artificial reef that cost more than £3million and was supposed to turn Bournemouth into a surfers’ paradise has been declared unsafe and closed after inspectors found it was producing dangerous undercurrents. The reef, which was constructed in 2009, is made of 55 submerged sand-filled bags, which are believed to have been displaced and need to be repositioned. Remedial works are expected to be carried out soon. (D Telegraph)

Mountain rescue teams condemn iPhone navigators – Ramblers who use their smart phones to navigate and have no idea how to read a map are causing the number of emergency call-outs to rise by 50 per cent, mountain rescuers claim. Lake District rescue teams said younger walkers relied too heavily on phones equipped with navigational “apps” and satnav technology. (D. Telegraph / D. Mail)

Have a safe and FUN weekend in the sun!

Vicky Fraser

RoSPA’s Press Officer, Web Editor and Resident Blogger

Keep safe in the water on holiday

Now that spring has sprung, thousands of UK families will be itching to take their Hawaiian shirts out of mothballs for some sun-soaked holiday fun. For all those lucky enough to be jetting off to exciting locations this summer, here’s just a word to the wise.

Before scouring the High Street or internet for last-minute travel deals, why not prepare some potentially life-saving questions? If you intend to accompany a child on your trip, asking the right questions to the right people could prove vital.

RoSPA research shows that from 2003-09, 67 British children, aged 0 to 17, drowned while on holiday abroad.

Though the deaths occurred in 19 countries across the world, most happened in the popular European destinations of: Spain (26), France (9), and Greece and the Greek Islands (7).

Of the 67 deaths, 26 occurred in hotel pools, 15 in the sea and 11 in private swimming pools, for example at villas.

The best time to ask questions is while booking:

• Holiday specialists should know how appropriate their properties are for children, so ask them about swimming pools or any other safety-related issues
• For hotels or apartments, check if the pool uses lifeguards (but remember: “pool attendants” are not always trained lifeguards)
• If you prefer a villa, ask if the pool has fencing with lockable gates: think twice if it doesn’t.

Taking your children swimming in the months before and teaching them about water safety is also recommended. See www.rospa.com/LeisureSafety/ for tips.

And, if you’ve never learned first aid, why not investigate local courses?

If you have already booked your break, don’t worry: you can still ask questions when you arrive – holiday reps and staff at your accommodation are normally more than happy to help.

When you arrive, take time to check the pool layout and the location of emergency rescue equipment. Also, be aware that a significant number of pool drownings happen on the first or last day of the holiday, perhaps when parents have been distracted with arrival or departure arrangements and when children have been keen to explore.

Supervision is the key. Therefore, make sure you actively supervise young children near water, perhaps taking it in turns with other adults.

If you want to swim in the sea, ask if lifeguards are on beach duty, and identify the areas with dangerous currents. Ensure you know what the flags mean, both in the UK and abroad – they don’t all mean the same thing. Take a look at our beach flags webpage –  www.rospa.com/LeisureSafety/AdviceAndInformation/WaterSafety/beach-flags.aspx – for more details.

Moreover, be wary when holidaying during the off-season. There are less likely to be lifeguards on duty and bathing conditions may be quite different.

Finally, please also remember to have a heap of fun. Holidays are great opportunities for children to get out and experience the world around them. Bon voyage!

Michael Corley

RoSPA’s Campaigns Manager

CSEC and LASER: the future of practical safety education

In the wake of Government spending cuts, many valuable projects have been brought to an end – and CSEC (the Child Safety Education Coalition) and LASER (Learning About Safety by Experiencing Risk) were, unfortunately, among them.

The projects were a breath of fresh air in a world increasingly obsessed with litigation and wrapping children up in cotton wool. Their remit was to help children to learn and grow by allowing them to experience risk and get out into the world and enjoy life.

Pete Wilson talks about the Safeside Centre

Launched in 2009, CSEC, a member organisation hosted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and funded by the Department for Education, encouraged and supported “high quality practical safety education” through everyday activities that helped children learn about danger and how to cope with it.

The LASER project began at RoSPA in 1999 and was funded by the Department of Health. Its ultimate aim was to establish good practice guidelines for interactive safety education schemes. In 2005, it received further funding to undertake a programme of voluntary accreditation for permanent safety centres and annual events.

 

Looking to the future

Last week, CSEC and LASER members met in Birmingham at the Safeside Centre to feed back on the forum’s work, to report on evaluation of the CSEC project, and to discuss its future.

I have been privileged to be involved with both CSEC and LASER and am sorry that the projects have come to an end in their current form – however, this meeting has uncovered a lot of positivity about the way forward.

We may not have access to Government funding any more – but we should try to see this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. The CSEC and LASER members will be able to set their own agendas, free from the restraints placed on us by funding criteria. And although we will now have to find cash in other ways, I hope that we are well-enough established to be able to keep up the momentum.

Mark Wingfield, MAX Practical Conflict Management, and Jocelyn Meekums, Central Networks, take part in a discussion table

Everyone was very keen to keep CSEC and LASER going in a new form and under a new name, combining the strengths of both projects in order to ensure that children can continue to be challenged and learn to overcome all the obstacles life throws at them.

There are many new areas to tackle: alcohol is becoming a huge problem among young people – not just for health reasons, but because accidental injuries associated with alcohol are on the increase; new technology is appearing all the time, and presenting us with new challenges as well as making life easier; reversing the trend for wrapping children in cotton wool, and not allowing them to take any risks at all. These are just a few of the issues facing society at the moment.

Additionally, there is now scope to expand the work that CSEC and LASER were doing to the whole of the UK, rather than being restricted to England.

Key policy developments

Dr Jenny McWhirter updates the forum on policy developments

Dr Jenny McWhirter, RoSPA’s risk education adviser, presented a round-up of key policy developments at last week’s meeting, looking at many areas of safety affecting children and young people.

She also revealed that, according to a new article in the Lancet on 50-year trends on injuries in all age groups, accidents and fatalities among 15-24-year-olds have fallen the least, making them a very important target group in the UK. The BBC website also carries the article.

It’s easy to forget that young people are consumers too (in ever-growing numbers). Within the sphere of consumer safety, there have been several developments including:

• A change in the way consumers can seek advice, with the Citizens’ Advice Bureau taking over the Consumer Direct advice service
• There are now fewer proactive checks undertaken by Trading Standards as a result of funding cuts, which may impact upon the safety of products in the marketplace
• The recession is having a big effect on consumers, with sales of second-hand goods increasing enormously, meaning more goods are being sold that may be damaged and often without their original packaging and instructions.

Jenny also talked about how changes in transport policy will affect children and young people, including their methods of travelling to school/college – and the effects of cuts being made to school crossing patrols.

Jane Stark, Wakefield Health Care, outlines her successful bicycle project

Of course, one of the biggest stories recently has been the European Court of Justice ruling on car insurance and inequality, when gender is used as a risk indicator. We are particularly worried that this may lead to more young women driving without insurance as it becomes less affordable.

In the workplace, in the wake of Lord Young’s Review, many aspects of occupational health and safety may be affected – and with young people in the workplace, this affects them as much as more seasoned workers.

We don’t yet know how the abolition of Primary Care Trusts will affect the delivery of public health services and whether injury prevention will be given priority.

Feedback from CSEC and LASER members

Cassius delivers the results of the CSEC and LASER member survey

I reported on the results of a survey sent out to all CSEC and LASER members in early January. We received 17 responses from CSEC members and 24 from LASER members and prospective members from around the UK.

Many of the members feel very positive about the projects, remarking that support from LASER has provided excellent opportunities. However, there was a feeling that we should be seeking funding for schemes that are seriously under threat rather than providing remote supervision or inspection. There was a general hope that CSEC and LASER could continue in another form in the future.

CSEC evaluation

The CSEC Evaluation Team (from the University of Nottingham) conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the CSEC project, starting with a literature review and membership survey. They also conducted an international experts review.

Dr Michael Watson from Nottingham University presents the findings of the CSEC evaluation

Michael Watson from the evaluation team presented preliminary results which showed that overall, RoSPA was successful in establishing a functioning coalition in a relatively short space of time and that members of CSEC see their membership as being a clear benefit to them.

Twelve recommendations were made about CSEC’s work, including:

• CSEC is at a pivotal point in its development, and now needs to reinvent itself as a new organisation and raise its own funds to ensure the valuable work being done is not lost
• CSEC (or its new incarnation) should undertake a strategic review to re-examine its aims, objectives and key functions to ensure they are still relevant
• Young people should be more involved through the member organisations
• The project should promote the Resource Profiler
• The definition of practical safety education should be expanded upon and publicised.

The group discussion in the afternoon highlighted the positive feeling from CSEC and LASER members that the groups should continue in a new format and under a new name.

Suggestions for funding the project included: membership subscriptions, sponsorship, commercial partners, income generation and LASER accreditation.

Jenny Spink, a youth volunteer with Fairbridge

There were several interesting ideas as to how more young people could become involved in a future project: the promotion of work experience at involved organisations; through youth organisations such as Changemakers and Fairbridge; at events; through schools and websites; and many more.

A discussion took place about the possibility of training happening at future meetings, with the suggestion that it could generate income from non-members. Members thought that training in special needs could be useful; as well as setting learning objectives, use of social networking, child protection, evaluation and fundraising.

Members would very much like to get more young people involved in the future project. This is a feeling echoed by me and my colleagues at RoSPA – and we will be doing everything we can to ensure that the good work done can continue, in the projects’ future incarnation.

Photographs were taken by Esme Collins and Mayank Sharma, young people working with Changemakers and beginning their photography careers.

Cassius Francis

RoSPA’s Youth Liaison Worker

RoSPA’s blind cord campaign is extended in Scotland

Following the success of the Make it Safe pilot campaign in North Lanarkshire, I was delighted that we secured further funding to allow us to build on the original project and roll it out to new areas in Scotland.

We launched the Make it Safe campaign at the Saltire Centre in Glenrothes on March 21 and secured a decent amount of publicity. I did a couple of radio interviews and the detail of the project was covered in the local press.

On the day I was, of course, impressed by Fife Council’s commitment at a strategic level but what was really evident on the day was the support being given by those who are actually going to be in a position to speak directly with householders.

Many different types of practitioners can offer home safety advice to support the messages that organisations like RoSPA can highlight, but the messages are much more effective when someone is standing in your house saying: “Look, this is what I’m talking about.”

The people who are supporting the campaign in Fife are well-respected by those that they visit. As well as the council’s team of home safety advisers, it’s great to have health visitors, social workers, family support workers and public health nurses standing alongside local representatives of organisations such as Gingerbread and the Scottish Childminding Association. These dedicated people are all keen to ensure that families are aware of the danger posed by corded blinds – products that are probably installed in the majority of homes.

L-R: Sam Pairman (Fife Cares), Bob Arnott (Safer Homes Task Group), Elizabeth Lumsden (RoSPA), Margaret Caldwell (Public Health Nurse), Mark McCall (Fife Community Safety Partnership)

A key part of this campaign is that we can work with local partners to ensure that advice and education is given directly to the parent or carer, and where appropriate we can actually ensure that the cleats (to tie the cords around) are fitted properly. For example the Fife Cares Child Safety Scheme will provide home safety advisers to discuss the dangers posed by blind cords with parents and carers of young children. This award-winning initiative is part of Fife’s Community Safety Partnership and also provides other child safety equipment as part of a free service.

Fife’s launch last month was also attended by Margaret Caldwell, a public health nurse whose work with the Scottish Government has resulted in an estates and facilities alert issued across the UK to highlight that corded blinds are not only an issue in the homes of the general public but could also be a danger in health care premises such as health centres and doctors’ waiting rooms. It emphasised that risk assessments should be carried out in all premises where children have access and not just kept to those that are health service-related.

We’re really pleased that the expansion of the campaign is going so well, and that people seem to be taking the advice on board.

Elizabeth Lumsden

RoSPA’s Community Safety Manager for Scotland