Take Action Today campaign launches in Derby City

Posted by Charlotte Salter, on October 23, 2024.

The latest phase of the Take Action Today, Put Them Away home safety campaign is being launched on 23rd October 2024 in Derby City, where families are being urged to take action to use and store cleaning products safely by the Royal Society for the Prevention Accidents (RoSPA) and the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI).

This follows the scheme’s success in over 50 areas of the UK including Birmingham, Liverpool, King’s Lynn, Nottingham, Newcastle, Bradford and Northern Ireland where over 700,000 families have been helped to prevent poisoning and eye injuries.

In Derbyshire, accidental poisonings accounted for 140 emergency admissions for 0 – 4-year-olds between 2018/19- 2020/21.

As part of the campaign, a handy magnetic notepad featuring key safety advice will be handed out to thousands of families by health visitors and children’s centre staff.

Jim Oram, RoSPA’s public health project officer, said: “The notepad acts as a constant reminder in family kitchens to store cleaning products out of reach, out of sight and in a locked cupboard.

“Due to their inquisitive nature, children under the age of five are most at risk of accidentally swallowing or getting household cleaning products, like liquid laundry capsules, into their eyes. Even products with a child-resistant closure cannot guarantee safety – they only reduce the risk by delaying access to the product.”

Philip Malpass, from the industry’s trade body, the UKCPI, said: “Cleaning products are designed to be safe to use and to provide the clean and hygienic home we often take for granted today. The accidents we see involving young children and cleaning products are avoidable and whilst the severity of the injuries is generally low, we hope that this campaign will remind parents to follow the usage instructions on the packaging, and in so doing, avoid unnecessary accidents.”

Susan Earnshaw, Area Service Manager for 0-19 Children’s Services at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are looking forward to working with ROSPA on this important campaign to help protect children in Derby from the risks associated with household cleaning products. The 0-19 children’s service provide safety advice at their routine development reviews. This project has given staff the opportunity to update their training and focus on providing the most up-to-date information, advice and support to share with the families within Derby city.”

About UKCPI

UKCPI is the leading trade association representing UK producers of cleaning and hygiene products from household soaps, washing powders, liquids, disinfectants, air care and polishes to the professional cleaning and hygiene products used in industrial and institutional applications.

It provides advice and guidance to manufacturers, distributors and users of cleaning and hygiene products. UKCPI also works in partnership with policymakers, the public and the media, to inform public discussions about cleanliness, hygiene and sustainable cleaning.

Contact the UKCPI on ukcpi@ukcpi.org or call 07843 199397.