First European Conference on Child Home Safety

The Conference started with a video from the Baroness Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Children, Schools and Families. She highlighted the key steps of the UK actions regarding child safety.

The variety of speakers enriched the exchange of ideas and practices that was taking place. Professionals of child safety, paediatricians, service providers, members of the UK government and associations from Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, the UK and Sweden were present.

Monday’s programme focused on the role of national governments and European-level interventions aiming at increasing child home safety. Mr Henri Watson, member of the Child Safety Unit in the UK government, opened the floor in expressing the key issues to work on at the national level.

The different causes of death among children were highlighted by speakers. Dr. Keith Judkins from the British Burn Association gave statistics on hot water burns that were bathtub related. Chocking, suffocation and strangulation due to products was discussed by Mr. Spencer Jefferson, UK Sales Manager at Baby Dan, a premium brand that provides child safety products. Ms. Morag Mackay from the European Child Safety Alliance presented the Child Safety Action Plan project, which aims to develop tools, identify good practices and establish a mentoring process to assist countries in building up action plans that address child safety.

Three workshops took place in the afternoon that focused on the challenges and opportunities of a multi-sectoral working, the role of education and product safety challenges. EPHA attended the multi-sector approach, which stressed several key points.

On Tuesday, the attention turned to international case studies and research. A presentation of Liri Endy-Findling from Beterem Israel’s National Centre for Children’s Safety and Health emphasised child safety’s situation in the Arabic communities.

The panel also had the chance to hear about projects taking place in Austria and Germany: the Safe Kids Germany and the Austrian Child Safety House: the Bärenburg (bears’ fortress).

Finally, Dr. Karen Pfeffer from the University of Lincoln highlighted the influences of socialisation on children’s perception of risks and behaviour, with a special emphasis on television’s role.

For further information:
 Eurosafe Website
 RoSPA Webpage on the event

EPHA related articles:
 Child Safety Report Cards Launched for 24 Member States
 Member States graded on child safety
 The European Child Safety Alliance Expesses View on the Toy Safety Directive
 Major review of child safety in 18 countries