DANGER TO CHILDREN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 6

DANGER TO CHILDREN

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITHIN REACH PLUNKET SOCIETY APPEALS TO PARENTS (P.A.) Wellington, Nov. 14. At the half-yearly meeting of the Dominion Council of the Plunket Society under the chairmanship of the Dominion president, Mrs. James Begg, matters concerning lhe health of women and children were discussed. Attention was drawn to the number of accidents to young children through electrical equipment, such as hot-water jugs, kettles and heaters, being left within their reach. It was pointed out that last year twelve little children lost their lives as a result of burns and scalds, and many more suffered grave injuries from the same causes. Moreover, two children were electrocuted. The society stressed the fact that although manufacturers could make a contribution towards the elimination of risk from electric fires or heaters by placing suitable guards on the market, lhe responsibility for protecting children rested primarily upon the parents, and all parents of young children were urged to safeguard all equipment within the children’s roach, or teach them to avoid accidents. The society considered that “Safety First" publicity must be continually kept before lhe public in order to prevent calamities which were being recorded all too frequently. The following resolution was passed at the meeting: “Thai as a great part of the Health Department’s health campaign is directed towards securing balanced food for general consumption, the Health Department and the Railway Department be asked to confer with the object of improving the nutritional quality of food offered at railway refreshment rooms throughout the Dominion, particularly for women and children. As new railway stations are now being planned the society urges that provision should be made for special rooms 1o ensure privacy for nursing mothers and where babies’ bottles can also be heated.”