The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preventing unintentional death and injury in children. The foundation supports Kidsafe Centres throughout Australia where parents and carers can learn accident prevention techniques. Kidsafe House at the New Children's Hospital Westmead has some helpful tips for all rooms in the house.

The Kitchen

• Move sharp tools like scissors and knives out of reach. It is also a good idea to hide plastic bags, matches and household cleaning agents.
• Place saucepans at the rear of the cooktop to prevent children reaching them. A stove guard fixed around the front and sides of the stove can stop little hands reaching the hot plates.
• Kids are attracted to movement, so never leave kettle or iron cords dangling. Excess lead should be wound up in a Curl-a-cord.
• Locks are a great way of stopping children opening oven and fridge doors.
• Childproof latches on kitchen drawers and cupboards will help keep them closed. Drawers should have stops to prevent them being fully pulled out.
• Power outlets should be located close to the bench area and well away from the sink and taps.
• External corners below 900mm above floor level should not be sharp or hard-edged. You can buy corner cushions to soften the edges on benches or tables.

Family & Dining Room

• There should be good visibility from the kitchen so parents can supervise children while they are playing in the family room.
• Furniture, such as arm and dining chairs, should not be placed against large glazed areas.
• Wall units and bookshelves should be securely fixed to the wall or sufficiently stable to prevent them falling.
• Ensure there is plenty of low-level storage for toys and books and adequate high-level storage for alcohol and precious decorator items.
• Cover sharp table and bench edges with cushions.
• When it comes to setting the table, placemats are preferable to tableclothes (which can be pulled off). Mugs are less likely to topple than cups and saucers.
• If you need to use a teapot or ashtray, place it in the centre of the table. Set the plate back from the edge of the table and cutlery behind the plate, rather than beside it. This makes it harder for little hands to reach.
• Highchairs should be height adjustable and have an appropriate five-point harness. They shouldn't be positioned close enough to tables or other furniture or walls that the child could push against them and tip over. Hanging seats are not recommended.

The Bathroom

• Bath times should be fun so make it safe and enjoyable. Remove electrical items that can be easily grabbed before the kids get into the bath.
• Put non-slip stickers on the bottom of the bath and shower recess. Some actually change colour to indicate a safe bath water temperature. Seats for the bath are not recommended. Of course, children should never be left unsupervised in the bath.
• You can buy bath tap caps which make it difficult for little hands to turn on the hot water. Alternatively, cut a hole in a plastic soft drink bottle and secure it over the tap. It will make the tap less accessible and also make a noise if the child tries to pull it off.
• Hot water should be controlled to a maximum of 50°C and hot water pipes should be concealed or insulated to prevent burns. Fill the bath with cold water first then add hot. Ideally, bath water should be between 38° and 40°C.
• All medications should be kept in a childproof cabinet.
• Bathroom and toilet doors should have emergency releases on both sides.
• Washbasins should not overhang the edge of the bath.
• Shower screens are ideally made of laminated glass.
• Towel rails should be strong enough to support an adult's weight.
• Safety switches are essential and appliances should be unplugged and placed in cupboards when not in use. No electrical outlets or appliances should come within the reach of a child in the bath or splash area.
• Avoid ceramic soap holders or ones with sharp edges.

The Laundry

• A split or half-door or moveable barrier keeps children out of the laundry while you are ironing or handling hot water.
• A wall-mounted ironing board is preferable to one with legs as it folds away and can't be pulled over.
• Buckets should be hung up or kept in the sink. Toddlers are head heavy and can drown in very small amounts of water.
• Poisons, bleaches and other cleaning agents should be stored above reach in a childproof locked cabinet.
• Avoid scalding or drowning by installing a bypass for water discharging from washing machines.

The Nursery and Children's Rooms

• Provide adequate storage for toys, which can be a tripping hazard.
• Never let your child sleep on a beanbag or waterbed.
• Bunkbeds are not recommended for children under nine years. If you do have bunks, make sure they have protective guardrails on all sides. The top of the rail should be at least 16cm higher than the top of the mattress and the ladder should be permanently fixed to the bed.
• Cords on curtains and blinds are a strangulation risk. Allow curtains to hang free.
• Bedroom flooring should be a soft impact-absorbing material.
• Bookshelves and wall units should be firmly anchored to the wall to prevent a child from pulling them over.
• Arrange furniture so it can't be used as a ladder to access windows.
• Cots should be strong and safe, with all bolts and screws done up tightly. Bars should be between 5cm and 8.5cm apart and not bend. The cot mattress should fit firmly. There shouldn't be any sharp edges, corners or protrusions where clothes could catch. Sides should measure at least 60cm from the top of the mattress. Refrain from positioning cots near windows, curtains and wall hangings.
• When putting baby to bed, place his/her feet at the end of the cot. Make up the cot so the baby's head can't slide under the bedclothes or become trapped against the head of the cot. Babies do not need pillows or bumpers.
• Make sure paint is lead-free.
• Children should never be left unattended in a walker as they can tip over and fall. If you must have a walker, look for one with a stable base that is too wide to fit unassisted through the doorway.
• As a general rule, children under the age of two should not play with anything that fits inside a film canister.