Qatar- HMC's Hamad Trauma Center advises practicing home safety techniques

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Hamad Trauma Center, through its Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP), is advising families and residents to practice proven home safe techniques during Ramadan. 'This year, Ramadan is also unique due to the partial lockdown and physical distancing required by the National COVID-19 response. Many family members are at home most of the time, so home safety must be our priority, said Dr. Aisha Obeid, Assistant Director, Hamad Injury Prevention Program. 'The Hamad injury Prevention Program urges the public to follow the below home safety tips to reduce the risk of home injuries, as well as to reduce any unnecessary load on the health sector as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. For safety at home families are requested to always assign a responsible adult to provide continuous and visual supervision over young children. Regardless of their age, unsupervised children are at a high risk for preventable home injuries, especially falls, poisoning, drowning, asphyxiation, and burns. 'Never leave your young child on a bed or counter unattended. Keep stairs and hallways clear and free of clutter that could cause a child or the elderly to trip and fall; install safety gates to block a toddler's access to a staircase, an outdoor terrace or balcony, said Dr. Obeid. Also parents are urged to keep poisonous and toxic household items, like detergents, medicines, and cleaning products, in locked cabinets that are above ground and inaccessible to crawling and younger kids. Keep sanitizers, hand rubs and antiseptics that are widely used these days out of children's reach to avoid eye irritation or oral ingestion. It is advised to provide constant supervision for young children, especially those under 1 year of age, while they bathe, as drowning often happens silently and can go unnoticed. It only takes a few seconds for a young child or toddler to drown and they can drown in as little as 3-4 inches of water. It has been advised to create a ‘safe zone' in the kitchen so children do not enter the kitchen while cooking or baking is going on. 'Before you start your car check for hiding or playing small children around your car in your parking area specially before you backup or reverse. Backovers can be prevented by walking fully around your car, to visually check for young children or pets, before you even start your car, said Dr. Obeid. For any emergency, parents have been urged to call the HMC Ambulance Services immediately at 999.MENAFN15042021000063011010ID1101921350