HOME SAFETY SCHEME HELPS PROTECT TODDLERS

In a bid to keep toddlers injury free at home Stockport Council has teamed up with Stockport Homes to offer the Home Safety Scheme. 

The scheme offers eligible Stockport Homes tenants who are parents the opportunity to have stair-gates, drawer and cupboard locks, fireguards and blind cord holders fixed for them free of charge by Stockport Homes.

Currently the scheme is available to Stockport Homes’ customers who have a child under the age of two and are in receipt of a housing benefit.

Every year in Stockport around 2,500 pre-school age children go to A&E due to unintentional injuries – falls make up a large proportion of these injuries. 

However, since the scheme began in 2011, there has been a drop of more than 10% in the number of pre-school age children admitted to hospital because of a fall. This shows that where families are helped to get the right safety equipment at home, it can make a real difference in terms of keeping Stockport children safe from harm. 

Councillor John Pantall, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Health and Well Being, said:

“This is a really positive scheme which is helping toddlers stay safe in their homes. I would urge tenants with children under the age of two to sign up to the Home Safety Scheme and for all Stockport parents to ensure they fit stair-gates to keep their toddlers safe at home. Also, ask at your local children’s centre for a Home Safety Checklist.”

Eligible parents can ask their health visitor or at their local children’s centre and a member of staff will go through the Home Safety Checklist with them. They can then make a referral to Stockport Homes to get the equipment fitted. 

Peter Harris, Customer Contact Manager at Stockport Homes, said:

“We anticipated that the scheme would have a positive effect on the number of children admitted to hospital because of a fall and now we have actual figures that demonstrate the benefit the scheme has delivered. We are absolutely delighted with the outcome.”

For more information about accident prevention for children of any age visit www.capt.org.uk