Parents and caregivers have been advised to strengthen supervision and create safer home environments as children prepare to spend more time at home during the school vacation.
A Paediatric Nurse Specialist at the Upper East Regional Hospital, Madam Gloria Ayambire, warned that the holiday period, combined with the farming and rainy seasons, often leads to an increase in preventable childhood injuries and accidental poisoning.
Speaking during a health education session at the hospital’s Out-Patient Department, Madam Ayambire said many home accidents occur when children are left unattended while parents and guardians attend to other responsibilities.
“The prevention of home accidents is very dear to us as a hospital because schools are closed for vacation and, as busy as parents are, they usually leave children alone at home. This is the period when many home accidents occur,” she said.
She cautioned households engaged in farming to be particularly careful with the storage of agrochemicals such as weedicides, which are often kept in homes during the farming season.
According to her, accidental ingestion of chemicals by children remains a major concern, especially when such substances are stored in places easily accessible to them.
Madam Ayambire advised parents to seek immediate medical attention if a child consumes any chemical and encouraged them to carry along the chemical container or label to help health professionals provide the right treatment.
She also identified falls as one of the leading causes of injuries among children, noting that slippery floors and unsafe sleeping arrangements contribute significantly to such incidents.
She urged parents to keep floors dry and ensure that younger children sleep in safer arrangements to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
The nurse specialist further warned that head injuries resulting from childhood accidents could have effects that may not be immediately visible but could affect a child’s development over time.
“Sometimes you may not notice the effects instantly, but as children grow, head injuries could affect their cognitive development and other aspects of their health,” she explained.
Madam Ayambire also called on parents to keep sharp objects including knives, needles, nails and cutlasses away from children’s reach to prevent avoidable injuries.
Beyond physical safety, she advised parents to pay attention to the type of content children consume, warning that frequent exposure to violent movies could encourage imitation of harmful behaviours.
She explained that children are naturally curious and may attempt to replicate actions they observe, particularly when they encounter objects such as knives or other sharp items.
Madam Ayambire urged parents and caregivers to take greater responsibility for child safety during the vacation by providing closer supervision, controlling media exposure and properly storing hazardous materials.
She stressed that many childhood accidents can be prevented through simple safety measures and increased awareness at home.
