A guide to safety proofing your home for the summer holidays

Mark Evans reports on the hazards in the home that can result in devastating injuries for children

FOR CHILDREN, summer means freedom. The shackles of school are thrown off and now they can spend the next two months basking in those long days of fun and sun. For their parents, summer is a chance to catch a breath after 10 long months of a regime revolving around hastily made lunches and frustrating school runs. Finally, it’s time for everyone to relax.

Unfortunately, with everyone’s thoughts turning to sun, sea, and so much more, there is a simultaneous fall-off in common sense. It seems we relax a little too much, dropping our guard against common dangers to our children. During those 10 months of routine we were hyper-vigilant for anything that could harm our kids but when July and August eventually arrive our awareness also takes a holiday.