Worrying numbers of children admitted to hospital after an accident in the home have led to the expansion of a family safety scheme.

The Home Safety Equipment Loan Scheme is run by the Family Services Unit at Cutler Heights Lane, Bradford.

It has now extended the scheme into the Bradford 3 postal area which is revealed in the figures to have a high number of home accidents.

Between April 1996 and March 1997 there were 2,489 admissions to Accident and Emergency at Bradford Royal Infirmary as a result of home accidents in this area (Barkerend and Bradford Moor) and a third of these were children up to the age of 14.

Between 1995 and 1997, property fires rose from 221 to 318, home fires from 64 to 108 and fires started by children from five to 17.

The project - which also operates in the Newlands SRB and former City Challenge areas - involves workers targeting families with a child under the age of five.

They visit them at home, offer safety advice, and loan and fit equipment such as fireguards, child safety gates, socket covers and corner cushions which are toddler-friendly plastic guards to go over sharp-cornered furniture.

Mandy Stone, one of the project workers, said common accidents to befall toddlers were falls, causing broken limbs and head injuries; burns and scalds; and poisoning through drinking detergents and medicines. Misguided parents had placed young babies of six months old in baby walkers and the babies had propelled themselves into gas fires, furniture or even fallen down stairs.

She had seen some alarming practices in homes she had visited.

"In one place, a fridge freezer was wired up to a light socket and other people sometimes connect two appliances to the same plug.

"A lot of accidents - especially things like burns and scalds - are preventable, just by being aware of things like hot drinks or by not having children in the kitchen when you are cooking," she said.

For more information the Home Safety Loan Scheme can be contacted on (01274) 651652.

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