Croatian Language

Croatian (hrvatski) is a South Slavic language which is used primarily in Croatia, by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Croatian minorities in some neighbouring countries, in the Italian region of Molise, and parts of the Croatian diaspora worldwide.

Standard Croatian is dialectally based on the Western Štokavian dialect with the IjekavianCommon Slavic yat vowel. The Croatian linguistic area encompasses two other major dialects, Čakavian and Kajkavian, which contribute lexically to the standard language. It is written with the Croatian alphabet, based on the Latin alphabet. Along with Serbian and Bosnian, Croatian belongs to the Central South Slavic diasystem (also referred to as "Serbo-Croatian"). reflex of the

Književni (hrvatski) jezik (literally: (Croatian) book language ) is a common phrase that is used for Standard Croatian (both written and spoken). Književni jezik (literally: book language) is a common phrase for any standard language.

The modern Croatian standard language is a continuous outgrowth of more than nine hundred years of literature written in a mixture of Croatian Church Slavonic and the vernacularvernacular literature (Croatian literature) has existed for more than five centuries.
language. Croatian Church Slavonic was abandoned by the mid-15th century, and Croatian as embodied in a purely

Early development

The beginning of the Croatian written language can be traced to the 9th century, when Old Church Slavonic was adopted as the language of the liturgy. This language was gradually adapted to non-liturgical purposes and became known as the Croatian version of Old Slavonic. The two variants of the language, liturgical and non-liturgical, continued to be a part of the Glagolitic service as late as the mid-9th century.

Until the end of the 11th century, Croatian medieval texts were written in three scripts: Latin, Glagolitic, and Croatian Cyrillic (arvatica, poljičica, bosančica), and also in three languages: Croatian, Latin and Old Slavic. The latter developed into what is referred to as the Croatian variant of Church Slavonic between the 12th and 16th centuries.

The most important early monument of Croatian literacy is the Baška tablet from the late 11th century. It is a large stone tablet found in the small church of St. Lucy on the Croatian island of Krk, containing text written mostly in Čakavian, today a dialect of Croatian, and in Croatian angular Glagolitic script. It is also important in the history of the nation as it mentions Zvonimir, the king of Croatia at the time. However, the luxurious and ornate representative texts of Croatian Church Slavonic belong to the later era, when they coexisted with the Croatian vernacular literature. The most notable are the "Missal of Duke Novak" from the Lika region in northwestern Croatia (1368), "Evangel from Reims" (1395, named after the town of its final destination), Hrvoje's Missal from Bosnia and Split in Dalmatia (1404) and the first printed book in Croatian language, the Glagolitic Missale Romanum Glagolitice (1483).

Also, during the 13th century Croatian vernacular texts began to appear, the most important among them being "Istrian land survey", 1275 and "The Vinodol Codex", 1288., both in the Čakavian dialect.

The Štokavian dialect literature, based almost exclusively on Čakavian original texts of religious provenance (missals, breviaries, prayer books) appeared almost a century later. The most important purely Štokavian vernacular text is Vatican Croatian Prayer Book (ca. 1400).

Both the language used in legal texts and that used in Glagolitic literature gradually came under the influence of the vernacular, which considerably affected its phonological, morphological and lexical systems. From the 14th and the 15th centuries, both secular and religious songs at church festivals were composed in the vernacular.

Writers of early Croatian religious poetry (začinjavci), translators and editors gradually introduced the vernacular into their works. These začinjavci were the forerunners of the rich literary production of the 15th and 16th centuries. The language of religious poems, translations, miracle and morality plays contributed to the popular character of medieval Croatian literature.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_language

Child Bed Safety Rail

Before you go out and buy the first child bed safety rail that matches your child’s room and theme and looks pretty, do some research on the products that are available on the market.

There is a wide range available, ranging from softer pillow type rails, to actual bed railings you install on the bed.

The first thing you need to ensure is the size of your child’s bed so that your bed rail will fit your child’s bed adequately and securely.

A bed rail that does not fit properly will not perform the job it is supposed to, no matter how pretty it looks.

Choosing the right safety rails.

There are many different kinds of bed rails that you can get and how they attach. Some attach adjacent to the bed, some do not attach at all and lie along the side of the bed to protect from falls, and some attach at the top of the mattress frame.

To maximize child bed safety, purchase bed rails that attach at the top of the mattress frame to avoid your toddler from getting caught in between the rails and the bed.

In your research you will also find bed rails that attach along the sides of the mattress frame.

These bed rails are not the safest if your child is just making the move to a big bed, as there is a greater chance of them getting trapped between the bed rails and the mattress.

These rails are however useful for when your child is a little older and more accustomed to sleeping in the big bed.

If your child’s bed is in the center of the room and not alongside a wall, then you can purchase bed safety rails in pairs so that both sides of the bed are guarded.

These are very safe bed safety rails and they will generally attach to each other from underneath the mattress. This gives the bed safety rails a comfortable yet very snug fit that are generally unmovable.

These bed safety rails also eliminate the chances of your child becoming stuck in between the mattress and the bed rails.

Even if you have purchased the safest bed safety rails on the market, you can not possibly predict the possibility of an accident, and sometimes accidents occur in even the safest conditions.

Most cases of injury related to child bed safety are as a result of faulty installation or some form of entrapment between mattress and bed safety rails.

Mesh that is attached on many of today’s railings has also been the cause of many accidents as children that move in their sleep may get caught in the mesh.

Though this appears to be somewhat safe from the looks of it, children that get stuck in the mesh can experience difficulty breathing, or have fingers or body parts get trapped and inhibiting circulation.

Avoid purchasing child safety rails that have mesh attachments on them as well. Overall, bed safety rails are the angels in the night that they are intended to be, protecting your child as they sleep.

However you must ensure you choose your product well to eliminate as many possibilities of accidents as you can.

Child bed safety tips and rules.

Here are a few child bed safety tips and rules for parents, and things that you can do to ensure your child sleeps soundly and safely at night. Which ultimately will ensure a sound sleep for you as well.

• Avoid purchasing bed rails with mesh attachments as a safety feature.
• Purchase bed rails that attach underneath the mattress for a more secure fit, or along the top of the mattress to ensure no space is left between the mattress and the rails.
• Measure your bed before you purchase bed rails to ensure you are purchasing the proper size.
• Do not have any blind cords around your child's bunk bed.
• Flooring in rooms with bunk beds should be soft enough to cushion possible falls.
• Do not use bunk beds until your child is old enough to understand, and follow the rules that go with it.
• Gaps between the bunk bed and the guard rails should be no more than 3 ½".
• Your bunk bed ladder should be fixed to the bed, and not be able to be moved around the room. Choose a ladder on a grade, rather than a straight vertical ladder, and install rubber to the handles and steps to ease grips.
• Make sure the slats on your bunk bed frame are sturdy to avoid breakage and falls. Metal frames are much sturdier than wooden frames for this reason.

Source: http://www.mychildsafety.net/child-bed-safety-rail.html

Child Gun Safety

Child gun safety statistics

Statistics at the National level have recently found that as many as 40% of American homes with children have some form of a gun or firearm in their home.

The research further indicates that as many as 1 in 4 or 25% of those homes keep their guns loaded. Additionally the research says that when accidents, suicide, or homicide occurs in a home, the gun used at the time was a gun found right in the same home.

National research also indicates that these numbers are probably on the low side, with more statistics pending due to the large number of unregistered firearms on the market.

While many Americans practice their right to own a firearm for personal safety, many parents forget to take the steps necessary to practice child gun safety in their home.

The fact of the matter is that guns can seriously harm or kill a child, and parents need to make sure that they are taking every precaution to protect their children from the very devices they use to protect themselves.

Here we will talk about some steps that you as a parent can take to ensure that your home is as safe as possible if you choose to keep a firearm in the house.

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Keeping guns or firearms in the home

The decision to keep a gun or a firearm in the home is not one that should be taken lightly, and a decision that comes with a wide range of responsibilities to you as a parent.

There is a serious risk of gun related injury or death when children are around guns, and when one is in their own home that risk escalates substantially.

Children particularly are especially curious when it comes to guns and gun safety. As a parent, do not lull yourself into a false sense of security when it comes to gun safety.

Experts at the National Rifle Association caution parents to not only speak to their children about guns and gun safety, but to make the inherent assumption that if a child sees a gun, their instinct is to pick it up, and pull the trigger.

The media does not help us in this matter, making action and adventure look fun, nor do today’s toymakers with a bevy of play weapons on the market.

Parents are urged not to purchase a firearm or a gun at all if they are not willing to take on the standard responsibilities of child gun safety.

Ensuring child gun safety

How can you ensure your children are safe when you have a gun in the home? The two basic responsibilities you have as a parent and as a gun owner, are to:

• Store your gun appropriately and safely. (Gun Safety Cabinets)
• Talk to your children about guns, gun safety, and what they should or should not do around guns.

The Safest Ways to Store Your Gun or Firearm in a Home with Children:

• Keep your gun unloaded, and keep it locked up. A loaded gun is an immediate weapon.
• Lock your gun and your ammunition in separate locations. If ammunition is easy to get to, children will learn very fast how to load an unloaded gun.
• Hide the keys to your gun or firearm safe or location, or better yet, keep them on you at ALL times. Some parents even wear them on a necklace to ensure maximum safety.
• Ask your neighbors who may also own guns if their weapons are stored in similar fashion, this is especially important if homes that your child frequents.
• Talk with your children about guns and firearm safety.

Talking to your children

You may be wondering what is the appropriate way to talk to your children about child gun safety. How you talk to your children about gun safety will depend on their age and what they can or can not relate to or understand. Here are some tips:

Very Young Children: The younger your children are, the more important it is to teach them that what they see on TV or in the movies is not real and that real guns can really hurt people, even themselves.

Young children need to be taught never to touch guns under any circumstance.

This message needs to be repeated periodically in order to keep kids from forgetting.

A simple 4-step rule as proposed by the Eddie Eagle Gun Safe program teaches children from pre-kindergarten through Grade 4 important gun safety steps. These include, “If You See A Gun:”

• STOP!
• DON’T TOUCH!
• LEAVE!
• TELL AN ADULT!

This system is easy to remember for children of this age group.

Pre-teens: Pre-teens are at the perfect age to start learning and being taught that guns and violence do not solve problems, and in fact, can create even more.

This age group needs to learn that there are serious consequences when it comes to handling guns poorly. They need to be emphasized that they should never touch guns unless they have permission to do so.

Teens: Teens are actually the most difficult group to talk to about gun safety, as they are generally more rebellious and independent.

Maintain a steady dialogue with your teen and see if you can spot any possible problems.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that it is more difficult to keep teens away from guns, than it is to keep guns away from teens, so at this stage, you may want to keep the gun out of your home if your teen poses a risk to gun safety.

The parent of a teen that owns a gun needs to be more vigilant towards signs of depression or isolation as these are signs of an increased risk of suicide. A gun will only make it easier for your teen.

The tips here may seem simple but even one step alone can dramatically decrease the number of kids that are hurt by guns every year.

The most effective measure of child gun safety that you can implement in your home is to not have one at all.

However, if you do decide to maintain a firearm in your home, ensure you take every responsibility of gun ownership, and parenting, very seriously to prevent gun related deaths and injuries to your most valuable assets – your children.

Source: http://www.mychildsafety.net/child-gun-safety.html

Children Water Safety

Childrens Water Safety tips and rules.

To many, “summer” is practically synonymous with “swimming.” It’s a favorite summer/vacation activity of people of all ages.

No doubt it’s an activity which can provide countless hours of fun, whether in the wading pool on the driveway or splashing in the ocean, but it also provides substantial risks.

According to the National safety Council, nearly 3,000 people die by drowning each year and children age four and younger have the highest death rate due to drowning.

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A child can drown in one inch of water. Most drowning and near-drowning incidents occur when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. Bathtubs, buckets, toilets, and hot tubs present drowning dangers as well. Never leave a child alone near water.

Water safety for children is vital and it is a good idea to learn childrens water safety and to enroll children over the age of three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors, such as American Red Cross certified programs.

However, even children who have successfully completed lessons or who are strong swimmers should always be supervised.

Special dangers for pools and hot tubs

There are hidden dangers beyond the control of even strong swimmers and adults.

The drains of pools or hot tubs pose drowning risks caused by powerful suctioning or from clothing which can become tangled.

These risks can be mitigated by installing anti-entrapment drain covers or safety vacuum release systems in the pump. All damaged drain covers should be replaced immediately.

Special dangers of natural bodies of water

Water can be very powerful. Even rivers and lakes can have strong undertows. A current can cause you to drift out much farther than you intend to go.

Don’t try to swim against a current if caught in one. If you are ever caught in a current do not try to swim against the current; swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it.

Check the surf conditions before you enter the water. Do not swim if warning flags are posted, if water levels are unusually high, or if water conditions are hazardous.

Always use approved personal flotation devices (life jackets). Always jump feet first into unknown bodies of water to avoid hitting your head on a shallow bottom.

Printable Water Safety Rules For Children

• Never leave a child alone near water. –This is a biggie and therefore bears repeating.
• Even when lifeguards are on duty, supervise your own child. Lifeguards are not babysitters. Parents are responsible for their childrens water safety.
• Teach children to swim and tread water.
• Home pools and hot tubs should always be gated and locked or appropriately covered when not in use. Keep lifesaving equipment near by. Remember that these are “attractive nuisances.”
• Never dive into water less than nine feet deep. Never dive into unknown bodies of water.
• Do not swim during bad weather or in hazardous water conditions.
• If you don’t know how to swim….wear a live jacket or vest around pools.
• Always wear a life jacket or vest on a boat, even if you are a good swimmer.
• Never run near swimming pools.
• Stay away from wells.
• Always follow the rules at the pool, beach, or lake.
• Stay clear and swim away from platforms and diving boards.
• Follow appropriate sun safety tips as well. Use sunscreen and eye protection. Drink lots of non alcohol, non caffeinated fluids to avoid dehydration. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Do not swim when tired.
• Learn CPR.

Children Water Safety Guidelines For Parents

• Always keep your swimming pools fenced and locked.
• Pool owners……invest in a pool alarm.
• Always remove covers from pools before swimming. Partially covered pools are dangerous and crucial to childrens water safety.
• Never take your eyes off your child even if he/she isn’t swimming.
• Make sure diving boards are securely anchored and well constructed.

Source: http://www.mychildsafety.net/childrens-water-safety.html

Road Safety for Childen around School

Parents typically do a great job of preparing their child for school throughout the year with appropriate clothes, necessary supplies, and even the perfect backpack. But one area that is often lacking, transportation experts say, is child safety driving awareness around school zones, school buses, and child care centers.

Child safety should be the first and foremost consideration when determining how a child is dropped off and picked up from school or daycare. Yet the very parent who is most tedious about exercising safety precautions around their own child is often the first to zoom off from the curb after making the safe drop-off, and potentially endangering other children in their haste to leave.

Educators have a challenge at the beginning of every school year, and rely on parents to partner with them to ensure children arrive and depart safely from school every day. Daycare centers or pre-schools (or any facility providing care to young children) indicate the same concerns. Motorists are so worried about their own child's safety and about being on-time for school and work, that they commit safety infractions afterward. School officials report double-parking, speeding through school zones, not being on the lookout for children darting between cars or careening off their bicycles, or even committing a U-turn on a two-way street to turn the car into the direction they want to go.

Daycare centers face the very same issues, as parents return to a school-year work schedule, and are often trying to get both school-aged children to their campus on time and then drop-off a younger child at a child care setting before going to work. The extra drop-offs and fall routine add stress, time management issues, and as a result, child safety concerns to boot.

Parents should check with their child's school or child care provider to learn child safety procedures and routines. By the same token, educators and providers should take extra precautions and initiatives to familiarize parents with child safety tips and guidelines. Each year, tragedies are reported of children getting injured or even tragically killed by darting between cars, not using a cross-walk, or motorists simply not being observant enough.

What should parents do now for child safety this school year?

* Familiarize yourself with school or provider drop-off and pick-up practices and then be sure you always follow them. One of the biggest complaints by school officials is that parents find a reason to be exception to the rule. If the curb says "No stopping, standing or parking at any time," that means for everyone. If children are required to use designated cross walks, don't walk your child across the middle of a street just because you're holding her hand. If traffic is supposed to be one way at designated times, be prepared to change your traffic pattern. And, if an area is designated for teacher parking only, then don't grab a space to drop off your child because you think it's just for "a couple of minutes."

* Discuss the rules with your child and practice with younger ones. If possible, take your child to the drop-off area and "practice" the procedure at an off-peak time. Have your child wear his backpack (if required) and walk him through what to look for, what to do, and what not to do. If crossing guards are utilized, explain their purpose and how they must wait for approval to cross. Younger children understand best by actually "doing" a routine instead of just being told about it. Familiarity and then repetition are the best guidelines for ensuring child safety all school year long.

* Resist the urge to speed or make any traffic rules exception because you are running late. Whipping your car around, getting your child to dash out of the car to reach the classroom before the school bell rings, or encouraging a "drop-and-dash" drop-off is the recipe for disaster in terms of child safety. You would rather your child receive a tardy notice than to be in an accident.

* Know all traffic rules concerning school zones and traffic flows. Remember, ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Drive your pattern now and familiarize yourself with the various speed zones. Be aware of which side of the car your child sits, and consider positioning her to the side most convenient for exiting. If your child is in a "drop" situation, see if the child seat or booster seat is something he can put on or off safely; the same holds true for lap belts and shoulder harnesses.

* Refrain from using your cell phone, palm, or any other distraction while around school zones. This common-sense advice really applies whenever a motorist is behind the wheel, but especially when in a driving situation around young children and their perhaps spontaneous actions.

Intellectual Development

Intellectual Development:

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Leaving your Child Home Alone

Child Safety - Leaving your Child Home Alone

Child Safety - Leaving your Child Home Alone
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Is Your Child Ready?

Whether it's a snow day home from school, an unexpected business appointment, or a child care arrangement that fell through at the last minute, situations are likely to arise where you feel you have little choice but to leave your child home alone.

It's natural to be a bit anxious when you first leave your child without any supervision. But it doesn't have to be something for which you and your child feel unprepared. With some planning — and trial runs where you remain close by — you can approach the situation with confidence.

Handled well, staying home alone can be a positive experience for your child, too — one that helps him or her gain a sense of self-assurance and independence.

It’s obvious that a 5-year-old can't go it alone, and that a 16-year-old can probably handle it. But what about those school-aged kids in the middle? It can be difficult to know when kids are ready to handle being home alone. Ultimately, it comes down to your judgment about what your child is ready for.

You'll want to know how your child feels about the prospect, of course. But often kids insist that they'll be fine long before you feel comfortable with the idea. And then there are older kids who seem afraid even when you're pretty confident that they would be just fine. So how do you know?

In general, it's probably not a good idea to leave a child younger than 10 years old home alone. Every child is different, but at that age, most kids don't have the maturity and skills to respond to an emergency if they're alone.

Other Factors to Consider

Think about the area where you live. Are there neighbors nearby you know and trust to help your child in case of an emergency? Or is it mostly strangers? Do you live on a busy street with lots of traffic? Or is it a quiet area? Is there a lot of crime in your area?

It's also important to consider how your child handles various situations. Here are a few questions to think about:

* Does your child show signs of responsibility with things like homework, household chores, and following directions?
* How does your child handle unexpected situations? How calm does your child stay when things don't go his or her way?
* Does your child understand and follow rules?
* Can your child understand and follow safety measures?
* Does your child make good judgments about what kinds of risks to take?
* Does your child know basic first-aid procedures?
* Does your child follow your instructions about staying away from strangers?

Other Factors to Consider

Think about the area where you live. Are there neighbors nearby you know and trust to help your child in case of an emergency? Or is it mostly strangers? Do you live on a busy street with lots of traffic? Or is it a quiet area? Is there a lot of crime in your area?

It's also important to consider how your child handles various situations. Here are a few questions to think about:

* Does your child show signs of responsibility with things like homework, household chores, and following directions?
* How does your child handle unexpected situations? How calm does your child stay when things don't go his or her way?
* Does your child understand and follow rules?
* Can your child understand and follow safety measures?
* Does your child make good judgments about what kinds of risks to take?
* Does your child know basic first-aid procedures?
* Does your child follow your instructions about staying away from strangers?

Discuss Emergency Scenarios

Try to regularly discuss some emergency scenarios — ask what your child would do if, for example, he or she smelled smoke, a stranger knocked at the door, or someone called for you while you're gone.
Before You Leave

Even after you decide that your child is ready to stay home alone, you're bound to feel a little anxious when the time comes. But some practical steps taken in advance can make it easier for you both:

* Schedule time to get in touch. Set up a schedule for calling. You might have your child call as soon as he or she walks in the door (if coming home to an empty house), or set up a time when you'll call home to check in. Figure out something that's convenient for both of you. Make sure your child understands when you'll be able to get in touch and when you might not be able to answer a call.

* Set ground rules. Try to set up some special rules for when you're away and make sure that your child knows and understands them. Consider rules about:
o having a friend or friends over while you're not there
o rooms of the house that are off limits, especially with friends
o TV time and types of shows
o Internet and computer rules
o kitchen and cooking (you may want to make the oven and utensils like sharp knives off limits)
o opening the door for strangers
o answering the phone
o getting along with siblings
o not telling anyone he or she is alone
Additional Tips

* Stock up. Make sure your house has everyday goods and emergency supplies. Stock the kitchen with healthy foods your child can eat, and leave a dose of any medication that your child needs to take. In addition, leave flashlights in an accessible place in case there's a power outage. Post important phone numbers — yours and those of friends, family members, the doctor, police, and fire department — that your child might need in an emergency.

* Be sure that you:
o Create a list of friends your child can call or things your child can do when he or she is lonely.
o Leave a snack or a note so your child knows you're thinking of him or her.
o Make up a schedule for your child to follow while you're away.
o Make sure the parental controls and filtering systems, if you have any, are programmed for the Internet on your computer and on your television.

* Childproof your home. No matter how well your child follows rules, be sure to secure anything that could be a health or safety risk. Lock them up and put them in a place where your child cannot get to them or, when possible, remove them from your home. These items include:
o alcohol
o prescription medications
o over-the-counter medications that could cause problems if taken in excess: sleeping pills, cough medicine, etc.
o guns (if you do keep one, make sure it is locked up and leave it unloaded and stored away from ammunition)
o tobacco
o car keys
o lighters and matches
Ready to Go

When you're ready to leave your child home alone for the first time, there are other things you can do to help both of you get comfortable with the transition.

You might have an older teen or a friend of the family come over to stay with your child. Don't call that person a "babysitter" — tell your child that the person is there to keep him or her company. You may also want to let your child invite a trusted friend of the same age to come over, and propose this as a trial run for later solo stays. Be sure to let the friend's parents know that you won't be home.

And don't forget that pets can be great company for kids who are home alone. Many kids feel safer with a pet around — even a small one, like a hamster, can make them feel like they have a companion.

So cover your bases and relax. With the right preparation, and some practice, you and your child will get comfortable with home-alone days in no time!

Reviewed by: Kate M. Cronan, MD

Child Safety - hot weather

Child Safety - hot weather

Child Safety - hot weather
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Babies and young children should be watched carefully during hot weather. They can quickly lose body fluids through perspiring, which can lead to dehydration. They need to drink regularly, wear light clothing and be kept cool.

Warning signs of dehydration
Dehydration may be a risk if your child:

* Is not eating or drinking
* Is sleepy
* Is irritable or crying
* Has fewer wet nappies
* Has hot and dry skin
* Has a dry mouth
* Has a body temperature near 40°C
* Vomits or has diarrhoea
* Has a rise in temperature.

If you notice one or more of these signs, take your child to a doctor or hospital.

Offer frequent drinks to avoid dehydration

* Breastfeeding – if you are breastfeeding, feed your baby more often. Have plenty of fluids yourself including a cool drink at every feed.
* Bottle feeding – if you are bottle feeding, offer extra cool boiled water after the bottle.
* Small children – give young children regular drinks during the day. Water is best.

Sick children need special care
Sick children need special attention in hot weather. Even minor illnesses, such as colds or gastro, need
special care in hot weather. These illnesses often lead to a slight rise in temperature by themselves but,
in hot weather, this could lead to a risk of dehydration. Frequent breastfeeding and extra drinks are very
important if your baby is ill.

Keep children cool
It is often better to stay indoors on a hot day. If you must go outside:

* Dress your baby in a nappy, a light top and a well-fitting sun hat.
* Use baby sunscreen and reapply it regularly during the day (SPF15 is best).
* Don’t use zinc cream instead of sunscreen on your baby’s face, arms or legs. For children under six months, it might cause a reaction to their skin. Excessive use of zinc cream also stops the body absorbing the vitamin D from sunlight, which is required for strong bones.
* Take plenty of drinks for your child.
* Keep in the shade.

To cool hot little bodies, try frequent lukewarm baths or sponge them down with a cool washer.

Keep children cool when they sleep
Your children will sleep more comfortably if you:

* Let them sleep in the coolest place in the house (the passageway at night or the floor during the day) but make sure any pets are outside.
* Make sure the air can circulate around them – for example, by removing any padding around the cot.
* Don’t leave babies to sleep in a pram – they can be hot and airless.
* Hang wet towels over chairs or windows to cool the air.
* Use fans, but not directed at the child.
* Cover mattresses and waterproof sheets with thick layers of cotton and sheets to absorb perspiration and prevent prickly heat rash.
* Avoid using a pillow or mattress that lets your baby sink down into it.

Take care in the car
If you need to go out in the car in hot weather:

* Try to make trips in the coolest part of the day.
* Keep the windows open while the car is moving or use the air conditioner.
* Never leave babies or young children alone in a car, no matter what the weather. Even in mild weather, cars quickly become too hot for small children.

Water safety for children

Child Safety - Water safety for children

Child Safety - Water safety for children
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Drowning is a leading cause of death for toddlers. Many children under the age of five years drown every year, with almost half of these deaths occurring in backyard swimming pools and spas.

More than two thirds of toddler drownings occur typically in dams, creeks, rivers, irrigation channels, water troughs as well as home pools and baths.

It is estimated that for every child who dies, three or four survive but often with permanent brain damage.

Toddlers are most at risk
Toddlers aged between one and three years are most at risk, because they are mobile and curious but don’t understand the danger of water. You can considerably reduce the risks by supervising your child around water at all times and by teaching them to swim.

Taking precautions to reduce the risk of drowning around your home is also very important. A toddler can drown in a few centimetres of water. A child can drown in five centimetres of water. Every exposed water source, no matter how shallow, poses a significant danger.

It is important to provide barriers to prevent access to water sources. You should also learn resuscitation techniques so that you know what to do if you are faced with an emergency.

Supervise your child
The most important preventive tactic is to supervise your child around water at all times. This means actively watching them, keeping them within arms reach and not just glancing up every now and then. Don’t assume they will splash and yell for help if they get into trouble. Children can drown quietly in just a few minutes.

Learn to swim
Children can take formal swimming instruction from the age of four years. Water safety skills make up part of the tuition. Swimming programs are available for younger children and babies, but the emphasis is on building confidence and encouraging the child to enjoy water, rather than teaching them to swim. However, children under five years of age may not be able to use their swimming skills in an emergency, so never rely on this to keep them safe.

Flotation devices
If you buy personal flotation devices, like inflatable vests or ‘floaties’, make sure that they conform to International Standards – always check the label. You should think of these devices as something to help familiarise your child with water, not as a safety item.

A flotation device is not a replacement for supervision. Always supervise your child when they are wearing their personal flotation device, in case they tumble upside-down or slip through the vest.

Around the house
Suggestions for reducing the risks of your child drowning in and around the home include:

* Always supervise your child in the bath.
* Never leave an older child to supervise the younger child in the bath.
* Take your child with you if your telephone or doorbell rings while supervising your child in the bath.
* Empty the bath immediately after use.
* Always keep the doors to the bathroom and laundry securely closed.
* Use a nappy bucket with a tight-fitting lid, and keep the bucket closed at all times and out of your child’s reach.
* Cover ponds, birdbaths and similar water sources with mesh.
* Keep pet water bowls, aquariums and fish bowls well out of little children’s reach.

Backyard pools and spas
Suggestions to reduce the risks of your child drowning in the backyard pool include:

* Install a fence – swimming pools are required by law to be appropriately fenced. Your local council can provide information on pool fencing laws.
* Regularly check – that the safety latch on the gate is in good working order.
* Clear surrounding area – don’t leave any items or equipment close to the pool fence that would allow your child to climb up and over the fence.
* Pack toys away – don’t leave floating toys in the pool or your child may try to reach for them.
* Tip out water – empty wading pools immediately after use.
* Check your surroundings – when visiting other people’s houses, ask whether or not the owners have a pool, spa, pond or other body of exposed water on their land.

At the beach
Suggestions for reducing the risks of your child drowning at the beach include:

* Supervise your child at all times.
* Don’t assume that a beach that was safe in the past is safe now, since the action of waves, weather and wind can influence depth and rips.
* Only take your child to beaches with surf lifesaving patrols.
* Make sure your child only swims between the flags.
* Teach your child what to do if they get into trouble: remain calm, float and raise an arm to signal for help from a surf lifesaver or lifeguard.

Dams and waterways
Suggestions for reducing the risks of your child drowning in dams and other waterways include:

* Supervise your child around waterways.
* Warn your child of the dangers of swimming in dams and rivers.
* Ensure you have safe playing areas for your child well away from any dam or waterway.

First aid courses for parents
Emergency medical treatment for young children or babies isn’t always the same as for adults, which is why all parents should ideally take a course in paediatric (child) first aid, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).