Keeping Kids Safe in Edinburgh

On average 60 children under five are admitted to hospital in Scotland each week [1]. RoSPA Scotland are delivering a new project to help prevent accidents such as these.

The project entitled, Keeping Kids Safe in the Home is designed to provide parents and carers of children under the age of five with simple advice and information to help them keep their children safe.

The project officially launched on June 17^th and originated from RoSPA’s Centenary Appeal (Brighter Beginnings) which raised funds to provide resource packs to vulnerable parents/parents-to-be and carers of babies or children under the age of five. This piloted in Dundee City where a number of packs were distributed and focus groups held to gain valuable feedback.

Now, part-funded by the Scottish Government, the Keeping Kids Safe project will run in the South East of Edinburgh and has two overall aims:

1. To distribute 800 altered Keeping Kids Safe packs to families in South East Edinburgh
2.  To carry out research with parents to explore how they respond to and use the safety information and equipment provided.

Where our project fits

The first five years of life are vital for a child’s development, and unintentional injuries in the home is a serious issue for children under the age of five. This project will contribute towards the health and wellbeing of young vulnerable children by providing families with the skills, equipment and knowledge needed to make informed decisions on injury prevention so they can grow up in a healthy and safe environment.

The Keeping Kids Safe pack

800 Keeping Kids Safe packs are being delivered throughout South East Edinburgh by NHS Lothian and the Family Nurse Partnership. These packs have been altered from the original packs as a result of feedback from the pilot in Dundee.

The packs include the following:

• Cupboard catch - the original packs included a magnetic lock which was deemed to be overly complicated in the pilot scheme. A cupboard catch (with pictorial instructions) has now been included. This catch is the same catch used and tested in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde/RoSPA initiative Not For Play
• A flannel with bath tips to prevent drowning and scald injuries
• A coaster to remind parents of the dangers of hot drink scalds
• Weaning spoon and leaflet to help prevent choking
• A thermometer with useful information on looped blind cords and nappy sacks
• RoSPA height chart which is used by NHS Scotland
• Door jammer to help prevent finger trapping

A video was also created to help compliment the pack and has been filmed with RoSPA and a family in Edinburgh. This video provides tips on how to keep your child safe and can be accessed here.

What parents think

As part of the project, Powellite CIC run by Dr Marit Boot, will be carrying out independent research on the project in order to explore how parents respond to and use the safety equipment and information provided. Specifically the research will:

• Look at how the information / equipment has impacted on parents’ ability to make informed decisions with regard to home safety and injury prevention
• Look at how home safety and injury prevention can be taken forward through a person centred approach
• Consider the suitability and appropriateness of the delivery route. 

Carlene McAvoy
Community Safety Development Manager

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[1] ISD (2019) Unintentional Injuries - Hospital Admissions 2017/18. Available here.

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