The Public Health Agency is running Child Safety Week from 1 to 7 June to promote practical steps that reduce unintentional injuries to children in the home.

Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death and serious injury for children in Northern Ireland, with those under five at highest risk. Five hazards - choking, suffocation and strangulation, falls, poisoning, burns and scalds, and drowning - account for 90 percent of emergency hospital admissions in this age group.

On average two people die each week in Northern Ireland from accidents in the home, and around 17,000 people are admitted to hospital annually after domestic accidents, many of them young children.

Diane McIntyre, Lead for Health and Wellbeing Improvement at the PHA, said small daily actions such as keeping hazards out of reach and checking surroundings can reduce risks significantly.

The agency funds the Home Safety Check Scheme through 11 local councils. The scheme offers free safety checks and equipment to families with children under five.

The campaign theme this year is 'making prevention possible'. It highlights steps including blind cord safety, furniture stability, button battery storage, poisoning prevention, dog and road safety, fire safety, and supervision.

Further details are available on the PHA website.