Baby Safety Month

September is Baby Safety Month, and we know that parents and caregivers play a vital role in protecting their babies from any harm, big or small.

Most injuries can be prevented with the proper care and attention before the accident happens.

This event, which is sponsored by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JMPA), started in 1983 and has been helping parents protect their children every year since.

The focus of this year’s Baby Safety Month, as well as the normal tips and tricks, is on increasing consumer awareness of safety issues and the safe selection and use of baby products.

Baby proofing, where do you start?

• Start where all babies start, crawling. Spend some time on your hands and knees and make your way through your home taking note of anything you bang parts of your body on and anything potentially hazardous sticking out. Remove or move anything that you come in contact with.

• Be aware of open electrical sockets, these can be hidden by cheap plug covers, also, be aware of anything that can be pulled down, e.g. hand towels with items on top.

• Babies are really curious, lifting, opening and closing anything they can get their hands onto. Baby proof cupboards, drawers, lids, anything that could open or close, or potentially catch themselves with. Ensure all loose rugs and carpets are taped down to avoid anyone tripping over them.

• Be careful when using second-hand products as some of these will not meet the safety standards of today so can pose a potential threat to babies and toddlers. The safest option is to use newer products that meet current safety standards.

Watch out for:

• Anything that can be tipped over, such as a TV or furniture, more specifically, lights and anything similar with a wire attached. Anything with a chord or wire could pose a potential choking hazard, so ensure all of these are tied up and away from reach

• Magnets, especially smaller ones, are easily swallowed by children and once inside a child’s body they can connect to each other and cause serious internal damage.

• Button batteries can be just as easily swallowed as magnets and get stuck in the throat and cause choking as well as making it difficult to swallow. Swallowing batteries can cause serious harm so to err on the side of safety, visit an emergency room immediately.

• Washing tablets, there’s a good chance babies and young children will figure out what these are using their senses, touch, smell and eventually taste. Ensure these are kept in a child-proof container and out of reach for kids at all times.

Choosing the right product and using it right the way:

When buying a stroller, ensure the base is wide enough and use the undercarriage rather than hanging shopping bags on the handles. Only use slings and carriers when walking, never running or cycling.

If you’re buying a changing table, ensure you measure the area available before leaving to ensure you choose the right product. When changing your baby, always keep one hand on the baby and use the restraints available.

It is essential that any car seat you use is appropriate for your child’s age, always ensure you remove coats and jackets before putting them in the car seat as this can cause the seatbelt to not be tight enough, if they are cold cover them with a blanket.

If you would like to find out more about Baby Safety Month and how to fully baby-proof your life, not just your home, then go and visit www.jpma.org/page/baby_safety_zone

New firefighters welcomed into fire service

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed 17 new firefighters during a passing out ceremony at the Service Training Centre in Witham on 28th July.

The new recruits will be heading to Basildon, Chelmsford, Grays, Harlow, Leigh, Loughton, Orsett and Southend fire stations.

The ceremony was attended by Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive Rick Hylton and Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex. Proud family, friends and colleagues looked on in the crowd and the ceremony was live streamed for those who couldn’t make it in person.

The Service’s new recruits were welcomed into the Service during a passing out ceremony where they performed two drills to show off their training in dealing with a house fire as well as a road traffic collision and were then welcomed into the Fire Service by Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive Rick Hylton. He commented on the event: “This is one of my favourite events of the year. A chance to welcome my new colleagues to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. Congratulations, not only on the exemplary skills you’ve just shown us. But because I know that to be on that line today has taken hard work, determination and commitment. It’s rightly a very, very proud moment for you.

“You’ve beat off competition from thousands to be here and you’re here because you were chosen. You were chosen because we believe that you’ve got the right skills, the right abilities and the right behaviours to take this service forward to improve it, and to provide the best service that we can to the people of Essex.

“It’s my view that being a member of the fire and rescue service is without a doubt the best job in the world. It’s a job that has served me well for 26 years and it’s a job I can honestly say every day I get out of bed and I look forward to going to work.

“I’m really looking forward to working with you all. You’re part of the team now and we’re really fortunate to have you.”

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said:

“

It’s a privilege to be here to thank you on behalf of the communities of Essex.

“I strongly commend you for stepping forward to serve the public in the way you have done. I wish you every success, lots of safe deployments and that you enjoy your careers with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.”

The firefighters have been put through their paces over the last 17 weeks as they learned the practical and technical skills needed to meet the demands of a modern-day firefighter.

Firefighter James Aley was presented with a special award, and was recognised for his

££5

5 Off Off

determination and professionalism, and great teamwork during the course.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is recruiting wholetime and on-call firefighters. Find out more about the role and how to apply via join.essex-fire.gov.uk

How animals are changing lives in Essex

Horses, dogs, goats and many other animals are all playing their part in projects to improve and enhance the health and well-being of people in Essex.

Whether it is a wheelchair user feeling freedom through horse riding, a donkey visiting people in hospice care, someone in a care home cuddling a greyhound or a teenager with anxiety building confidence by working with creatures great and small, there is no doubt about the therapeutic power of being with animals.

Spending time with any animal can help reduce feelings of loneliness and stress, overcome trauma and make a positive difference to mental health. Animals provide comfort and distraction to those who may be feeling low and can also be a benefit to anyone with social barriers, including people with learning disabilities or autism.

Essex Community Foundation (ECF), the independent charitable trust which distributes around £4.5 million in grants to local charities each year, has supported a wide range of voluntary organisations with projects that utilise animals to improve the lives of local people.

Ace Hounds, in Uttlesford, was set up and is run by a small and dedicated team. They take retired racing greyhounds into care homes for elderly people and spend time with those who feel lonely or isolated.

The project was temporarily paused during the COVID-19 pandemic but was able to restart thanks to a grant from ECF of £5,000.

Susan Phillips, a volunteer at Ace Hounds, said:

“We help lots of different groups and take the greyhounds to see people who are elderly, have dementia, learning difficulties or mental health challenges. We have also started working in schools, to help young people gain self-confidence.

“The use of animals, especially dogs, has been proven to be therapeutic for people who are lonely or anxious and we’ve had feedback which shows that people leave our sessions feeling happier and more motivated.”

Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled provides riding and carriage driving to 120 disabled children and adults every week. The charity is a purpose-built riding centre in rural Essex, between Chelmsford and Brentwood, making riding accessible for people who may otherwise be unable to learn.

Anne Mitchell, Trustee, whose family founded the charity, said:

“Spending time with horses and ponies is proven to help improve both mental and physical health and well-being. For many of our participants the time spent at Barrow Farm may be the only exercise, and time spent in a countryside environment that they get. For them, learning a new skill builds confidence and self-esteem and the chance to make new friends. I see the benefits every day from the smiles on their faces and from the pride of their parents watching their riders achieve.”

One parent said:

“Riding at Barrow Farm has increased my son’s core strength, his balance and his coordination. It has also helped hugely his social and emotional well-being. It has been a real game changer, not only for him but for our whole family.”

The charity has been able to employ a part-time riding coach, thanks to a grant of £6,000 from ECF.

Wellies-On runs a 40-acre working care farm based in Abberton, near Colchester. For the last 18 years the farm has been a haven for a range of people from different backgrounds and age groups, including those with learning disabilities and mental health needs.

The charity’s therapeutic service enables people to care for the land and the environment and work with animals on their farm.

Ellie Goff, CEO of Wellies-On, said:

“Time spent in a farm environment allows people to grow in self-awareness, resilience and confidence, not just in physical tasks, but also in social interaction and life skills.

“People typically feel better about themselves when they are taking care of others and the same is true when caring for animals. We have goats, chickens, sheep, ducks and pigs to name but a few, and it’s a joy to see people of all ages connect with them.”

Wellies-On received a £10,000 grant from ECF to employ a part-time mental health worker, to give specialist support to children and adults on site at the farm.

St Helena Hospice helps families to make the most of the time they have together in a compassionate and caring environment. One of their patients has always enjoyed visits to the seaside so they brought the beach to them, complete with sand, pie and mash from their favourite shop in Walton, and even a rescue donkey called Sam from Riffhams Donkeys. Sam the donkey then had a wander around the Hospice visiting everyone and lifting spirits.

In 2022, we supported the Hospice to expand the capacity of their free bereavement service supporting people in north east Essex. Research shows that:

• Spending time with animals increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, promoting calm and relaxation

• Owners of pets are less likely to have depression

• Pets improve the quantity and quality of socialisation, providing conversation points

• Hugging and stroking an animal provides almost immediate relief from stress and anxiety

Can you help support Essex people?

You can give a one-off donation to help local charities or choose to set up your own charitable fund to give support over the longer-term. To find out more, call us on 01245 355947 or donate online via essexcommunityfoundation.enthuse.com/ cp/505fd/ECFWEB/#!

Kool Carers

Kool Carers supports young carers and their families aged 8 - 18 years in Essex’s Brentwood and Basildon boroughs, improving the life chances of young carers.

We are currently supporting 142 young carers and with their immediate families this equates to 500+ people.

We provide tailored respite youth groups, trips, counselling and advocacy for young carers and their families, in addition to offering support groups for parents/carers and grandparents. The programmes that are facilitated are developed and designed with young carers. In addition to these programmes, we offer specialist workshops, which have included cookery, drama, film making, photography, creative writing, sports related activities including personal training and intergenerational yoga.

The vision is for young carers to be encouraged and inspired to no longer care in the shadows, but with support they will gain the confidence to have a voice and make society listen and understand the realities of their lived experiences, creating wider societal awareness.

Kool Carers works effectively in partnership with other providers to deliver personalised holistic support for young carers and their families. Our innovative work aims to improve the skills and aspirations of young carers and we campaign for change, promoting young carers’ voices and experiences.

We have won numerous awards for our work including, BBC Essex Best Community Group in Essex Award 2022, Active Essex, Active & Inclusive Award 2022, Basildon Active Award, 2022, High Sheriff’s Cup 2023 and we were highly commended at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2021 for our work in supporting young carers.