Stockport Homes backs cleaning products accidents campaign

Stockport Homes is supporting the Take Action Today campaign to prevent accidents with household cleaning products.

The campaign is being delivered by The Royal Society of Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and washing-up liquid manufacturer, Fairy, while Stockport Homes and Stockport Council are spearheading the campaign locally.

Most accidents with household cleaning products happen to children under five years old. In Stockport, accidental poisonings accounted for 90 emergency admissions for 0 – 4 year olds between 2016/17- 2018/19.

Ashley Martin, RoSPA’s acting public health adviser, said:

Due to their inquisitive nature, children under the age of five are most at risk of accidentally swallowing or getting household cleaning products, like liquid laundry capsules, into their eyes. Even products with a child-resistant closure cannot guarantee safety – they only reduce the risk by delaying access to the product.”

As part of the campaign, approximately 6000 families in Stockport will receive a hand magnetic notepad featuring key safety advice, handed out by early-years workers, health visitors, children’s centres and housing officers.

Cllr Jude Wells, Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health in Stockport, said:

Children’s safety is of paramount importance to us all. This launch will help make us more aware of our surroundings and help to keep children safe. I am really keen to see this launched across the health visiting services, through childminders and nurseries, and through our Start Well centres to really spread the message.”

Sandra Coleing, Assistant Chief Executive at Stockport Homes Group, said:

Stockport Homes is committed to ensuring that all our customers are safe in their homes. We are proud to support the Take Action Today campaign and raising awareness of accidental household poisonings. Working together with RoSPA, Fairy Non Bio and Stockport Council we aim to reduce the incidents in the families, especially with younger children under 5 years old.”