Warwickshire County Council is supporting National Child Safety Week, running from 2nd–8th June 2025, to promote the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s (CAPT) annual campaign. The initiative aims to create safer environments for children by raising awareness of accident prevention, particularly for families with young children. This year’s theme, “Safety is Sharing,” emphasises the importance of disseminating reliable safety information to reduce risks.

The CAPT highlights that unintentional injuries, especially in the home, are a leading cause of preventable death among children under five. These incidents also contribute to severe health issues and disabilities. By focusing on practical safety measures, Child Safety Week seeks to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge to protect children from harm. Warwickshire County Council underscores that most accidents can be avoided with simple precautions, aligning with their goal to ensure children lead safe, healthy, and independent lives.

Top causes of serious accidents in young children

• Threats to breathing, such as choking, strangulation, or suffocation.
• Falls, often from windows, stairs, or furniture.
• Poisoning from household chemicals or medications.
• Burns and scalds from hot liquids or surfaces.
• Drowning in baths, pools, or other water sources.

Understanding a child’s developmental stages is critical to implementing effective safety measures. For instance, as summer approaches, open windows pose a significant risk. Warwickshire County Council urges families to install window catches, locks, or restrictors and to never leave young children unattended near open windows. Similarly, blind cords should be secured or tucked away to prevent strangulation risks.

Safe sleeping practices are another focus. While co-sleeping may feel instinctive, it can be dangerous for babies who cannot roll away, increasing the risk of suffocation. The CAPT recommends that babies sleep in their own cots. When travelling, families should request a travel cot from their accommodation to ensure a safe sleep environment.

Child Safety Week also promotes fire and water safety education. Interactive activities can teach children how to stay safe from fire, fostering lifelong skills. Water safety is equally critical, with drowning remaining a significant risk for young children. Parents are encouraged to supervise children closely near water and ensure they learn basic safety rules.

Simple steps to prevent injuries at home

• Storing household chemicals, medications, and sharp objects like knives out of reach or in locked cabinets.
• Keeping kitchen appliances, pots, and pans away from edges where children can access them.
• Installing safety gates to prevent falls down stairs.
• Using corner protectors on sharp furniture edges.

John Coleman, director for children and families at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We want all children to lead safe, healthy, and independent lives. Raising awareness around child accident prevention is crucial to this, as we know most accidents can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions. Along with our partner agencies, we work together every day to make Warwickshire child-friendly and help children and families to be safe. Child Safety Week allows us to put a spotlight on some of the support available to help people keep their children out of harm’s way in and outside the home.”

The council collaborates with local partners to deliver year-round support, but Child Safety Week provides a focused opportunity to engage families. By sharing practical advice and encouraging proactive measures, the campaign aims to reduce the estimated 450,000 annual hospital visits for child injuries in the UK, as reported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Families are encouraged to visit the CAPT website for resources and safety tips tailored to different age groups.