Some children are naturally cautious, with a strong sense of self preservation. Others rush in, either oblivious of any danger, or convinced nothing will ever happen to them. But any child could be involved in an accident. Genuine accidents are unfortunate. However many are avoidable, if those responsible have enough care, consideration and preparation.

The following checkpoints are fairly general but going through them will be a timely reminder of how to protect growing children, in the very place they would always expect to be safe.

Discuss them with your children and those who visit your home. This way they will know you are not just nagging, but giving them a chance to add anything they think is missing. They will be proud to have their own suggestions included.

Check outside - garden and yards.

Is the swimming pool cordoned off so small children and non-swimmers cannot fall in?

Is there a hygiene and safety code for the pool, so everyone knows what water play is allowed and what is not? Are inflatable toys and swimming aids safe?

Are all pumps and suction outlets well shielded to prevent children being sucked in and trapped in them? Are the drain covers visible and well secured?

Is the pool properly maintained and tested regularly to ensure the water's pH and free chlorine or bromine concentrations are correct?

Are there a clear marks to show where the water gets deep, and is the area surrounding the pool slip-proof and level?

A responsible adult should always be around when children are in or near swimming and paddling pools, or decorative water features. Water does not have to be deep to be deadly.

Are swings, trampolines, climbing frames, sandpits and outdoor stairs and furniture in good repair? Lose joints, worn or torn materials and splintery wood can all cause nasty injuries if children fall while playing on them.

Are heavy garden pots and ornaments fixed firmly so they cannot be blown over or fall from a wall or shelf?

Do all gardening tools, ladders, seeds, plant foods, pest control products, ropes, hoses, and decorating tools and equipment have their own storage area, well away from small children? Cuts, falls and poisoning are often the result of children exploring garages and store cupboards.

Are all rubbish bins tightly covered and emptied and disinfected regularly?

 

And even the balcony

If your balcony has wrought iron or steel rails and bars, could small limbs, or even a head, get stuck between them? Are aluminum frames steady? Is any glass in them reinforced? Above all are they high enough to stop a child climbing over them, or dragging something like a stool close enough to climb up and lean over the top?

Safer in the shade Playing outside is one of the joys of summer but even with a high-factor sunblock it can be exhausting and dehydrating. So make it easy to stay away from too much sun. Trees and bushes (the non-poisonous varieties obviously) umbrellas and canopies, as long as the umbrella is well weighted and its spokes are not child-head height, and any ropes and pulleys on the canopies are tied up neatly and not trailing around on the ground. A small tent or play house, while providing some shade, should actually be placed in a sun-free spot as they can get extremely hot and do not offer much protection from the sun's rays.

Back indoors Are there gates on the stairs, safety bars on windows, no loose cloths that can be pulled at, dragging everything on them onto the floor, or worse still a child.

Are there guards on the sharp corners of the furniture? Are all breakable ornaments out of reach? Are reachable sockets and switches protected from small fingers and anything that can be pushed into them? And has the increased fashion for huge plate glass doors and windows prompted parents to use those clever stickers that indicate there is a barrier ahead?

Furniture drawers can be fitted with stops, so they cannot be pulled out and land on a small child below. And mirrors, picture frames, bookcases shelving and flat screens on walls all need to be made secure. And are you certain none of the house plants are poisonous?

Fun and Games Who doesn't know that children should be kept away from all small, sharp items, and anything that has such bits attached to it? Play safe and look for the universal CE sign indicating a toy has passed all the EU safety checks and is suitable for certain ages.

Have all, naturally non-locking toy boxes or chests got supports to stop the lids slamming shut?

Is the use of screens, from TVs to tablets organised to prevent bad sleeping habits, eye strain and potential long-term eye damage?

In the kitchen

Most children are in and out of the kitchen all the time and many of them love to cook. But before the excitement of creating something delicious to eat let's just have a quick glance round the kitchen and count any potential hazards.

Heat sources As these cannot be avoided, ask yourself:

Are hot water taps, kettles, microwaves oven and other cooking appliances place well away from the reach of small children? And are all saucepan handles turned away from the edge of the stove?

Do cloths or oven gloves hang near the stove? Or curtains or blinds that could blow against a gas flame? If there is a gas cooker is it well away from the windows or drafts that could blow out the flames leaving gas leaking into the room? Are gas cylinders all outside? Are matches and lighters kept well away from children and naked flames?

 

Safe tools Do all knives, scissors and cooking utensils have firm handles? And are they stored where only older children can reach to use them?

Is everyone aware that when using a hot stove, putting food in or out of a hot oven, cutting, peeling chopping or using kettle, toasters, electric mixers and blenders and hot water to wash up the presence of an adult is non-negotiable?

And that spilt oil and, believe it or not, flour, rice, small grains and pulses can make a floor very slippery? In fact, wipe up everything that falls or leaks as you go along.

Also, are all toxic cleaning materials, stored, in their own containers, or child-proof ones, not drink bottles and food jars, well away from the reach of anyone they could harm? And while we're on the subject, where are all the medicine and first aid items kept? Older children alone should have access to a first aid box. All other medicines should be out of sight and reach.

Have child-proof locks been fitted on the fridge, dishwasher and washing machine?

And, one last thing - glass bottles, jars and heavy milk and fruit juice cartons can get covered in condensation in a cold fridge. This makes them wet and slippery all too easy to drop. And that could be a very big mess to clear up!

And so to bed? Furniture made before 1978 was decorated with lead-based paint, so you may want to strip and repaint any family heirlooms and pieces from Nanna or Nannu's room.

Are all window blind and curtain cords tied kept well out of the reach of toddlers in cots and young children's beds?

Is there a window guard or an iron grill that could prevent a placed any window being opened in an emergency?

Do young children's beds, especially bunks, have safe barriers to prevent them rolling out? Tiny babies should have cots without soft pillows or bumper pads and fluffy blankets and soft toys. Have you installed an efficient baby alarm?

Is the room the right temperature and has the heat or cooling source been checked recently? And is the night lights out of reach and plugged into a switch that little ones can't reach? And are all mobiles and shelves well fixed to stop anything going bump in the night?

It doesn't stop here. Of course, these are not the last words on keeping children safe in the home. There are hundreds of considerations, some even sound like scare-mongering, but they are a sample of the considerations which seem so obvious we automatically assume they are always be followed. It's only when someone's guard is down or a corner is cut that the risk of an accident increases and, to coin a cliché, prevention is better than cure.