Published
Bunk beds and baby change tables top the list for commonplace household products that contain hidden dangers which may cause serious injury and sometimes death when used unsupervised or not correctly.
More than 475,000 children in Queensland sustained injuries requiring emergency department treatment between 2004 and 2011. Incorrect use, or children playing without parental supervision were a significant cause of these injuries.
The Queensland University of Technology Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland´s (CARRS-Q) report Consumer product-related injuries in Queensland children: A snapshot of current problem areas for potential action highlights the hidden dangers associated with everyday consumer products and looks at ways to improve their safety.
The report examines a range of products that are significantly represented in injury data including:
- bunk beds
- magnets
- trampolines
- cots and portable cots
- strollers and prams
- change tables
- high chairs
- furniture and large appliances.
It also includes information on the types of consumer products that may result childhood burns and poisonings if misused.
The study was produced by CARRS-Q and the Product Safety Unit, Office of Fair Trading in collaboration with members of the Consumer Product Injury Research Advisory Group. The report is based on data from Queensland emergency department presentations and hospital admissions, as well as data provided by the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit.
Contact details
Media contact: Liz Costello, (07) 3247 5965
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/fairtradingqld
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fairtradingqld
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/fairtradingqld