A YELVERTON mother is warning West Devon parents of dangers in the home after her toddler was scalded by a cup of hot chocolate. Cathryn Horton knows only too well the emotional and physical cost of child injury and during National Child Safety Week she is helping to make people aware of the simple, practical steps they can take to help prevent accidents in the home. In Plymouth alone, 1,105 accidents to children under five were recorded at Derriford Hospital accident and emergency department between April 2008 and March 2008. Of these, 312 were minor head injuries, 256 lacerations, 118 fractures, 115 sprains or strains, 96 contusions and 84 burns. These figures do not include children brought to the hospital from outside the city's boundaries. Cathryn's daughter, Shakira, was burned by scalding hot chocolate left on a table just before Christmas: 'Shakira was 16 months and we put the mug on a surface that I thought was well out of her reach,' said her mother. 'I turned away for a second and she just grabbed it and suddenly started screaming as it went all over her. It all happened so quickly.' Realising what she had done, straight away Cathryn put her daughter in the bath with the cold shower running over her burned area before rushing her to Derriford Hospital where she was treated for burns on her chest. She was then referred to the specialist burns unit at Frenchay Hospital, near Bristol for further treatment. 'Fortunately, they expect her to make a full recovery and the scars probably won't be permanent, but the whole experience was incredibly upsetting for us as well as Shakira,' said Cathryn. 'I would like to warn other people that these sort of accidents can happen very quickly and could be prevented with just a little care.' A national survey by the Child Accident Prevention Trust of more than 1,000 parents and grandparents of under fives – to mark the launch of Child Safety Week – reveals that: Although 90% of parents and grandparents recognise that hot drinks are a danger to small children, half of those caring for children under five don't realise that a cup of tea or coffee can still scald a baby 15 minutes after it's been made. More than 500 under fives are rushed to casualty every week because of burns and scalds. Hot drinks are the number one cause. Although 86% of those surveyed know that everyday painkillers are a danger for children, over a quarter of those caring for under fives admit to keeping them in a handbag, where children can potentially find them. Around 20 children are admitted to hospital every day because they are thought to have swallowed something poisonous – and under fives are at greatest risk. Some 87% of parents and grandparents believe it's dangerous not to have safety gates on the stairs. But one in four of those caring for a crawling baby or toddler don't have a safety gate on their stairs. Almost 800 under fives are rushed to casualty every week after falling down stairs or steps at home. Over a quarter of parents and grandparents don't have restrictive opening devices on large windows. But 86% know that open windows upstairs pose a real risk to young children. Almost 2,000 under fives are rushed to casualty every year after falling from buildings. Last year, seven under fives died this way. Katrina Phillips, chief executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust said: 'Accidents are the second biggest killer of children in the UK. Six children die every week and over 2,000 are admitted to hospital. Most families are well aware of the dangers to children. But an alarming number don't put their knowledge into practice. 'We know it's hard when you're busy caring for a young child. And it's easy to think that a serious accident won't happen to your child. But taking a few simple safety precautions can make a real difference to their safety. 'Our theme for Child Safety Week is Make a change. Make a difference. We're asking parents and grandparents to think about their everyday behaviour and routines, and see what they can change to make their children safer both at home and while out and about. Every year thousands of children are killed or injured on the roads too, as pedestrians, cyclists and in cars.' Further information about how to keep children safe from serious accidents can be found by visiting http://www.direct.gov.uk/childsafety">www.direct.gov.uk/childsafety