Be aware of Giant hogweed and avoid contact

Date published: 18 June 2018

Be aware of Giant hogweed and avoid contact with it, as it can cause blistering and swelling on the skin. The plant is usually found growing in areas of damp soils, such as river banks.

Giant hogweed

Giant hogweed grows up to between three and five metres high, which is what helps identify it as it looks similar to hogweed and cow parsley.

You should report any sightings of the plant.

Giant hogweed contains a sap which irritates skin when it is exposed to sunlight.

Symptoms are usually noticeable within 24 hours and include blistering and swelling on the skin, which may be made worse by over-exposure to the sun.

What to do

If you come into contact with Giant hogweed:

  • cover the affected skin immediately to avoid exposure to the sun
  • wash the skin with cold water

If there is blistering or the contact was with the eyes, you should seek medical advice.

More useful links

Share this page

Feedback

Would you like to leave feedback about this page? Send us your feedback



Keep children safe from burns and scalds

Date published: 08 June 2018

It’s important that parents, relatives and carers are aware of the hazards which can lead to burns and scalds, and take steps to make sure children are kept safe.

Reduce the risk of accidents

Accidents can happen quickly in or around the home, sometimes it takes just seconds, and occasionally these can lead to burns and scalds.

But these accidents can easily be prevented by being aware of the dangers and hazards that are in the home, and taking steps to reduce the risks and make the home as safe as possible.

Hot appliances, liquids, and bath water are responsible for more than half of all burns and scalds, with young children being particularly vulnerable.

Be aware that:

  • hot drinks can still scald 15 minutes after they’ve been made and can result in years of skin graft treatment –  make sure hot drinks are out of reach of babies and children
  • hot water scalds in seconds – run the cold water first and always check the temperature of bath water
  • hair straighteners can get very hot very quickly and cause serious burns that scar for life – keep out of the reach of children and put them away safely after use

You can get more advice, including a video showing the dangers in the home, at this link:

Prevention is always better than a cure. 

More useful links

Share this page

Feedback

Would you like to leave feedback about this page? Send us your feedback



Blind cord safety information and advice

Date published: 06 June 2018

Looped blind cords and chains can pose a risk of injury or worse to babies and small children. It’s important that adults check their homes and take steps to make their blind cords safe.

Keep out of reach

Window blind cords and chains must be kept out of reach of babies and small children.

Simple steps – such as securing cords and chains with safety devices and keeping furniture away from windows so that children cannot climb on them – can help prevent deaths. 

Toddlers aged between 16 and 36 months are most vulnerable. It can take as little as seconds for a toddler to lose their life from becoming entangled in a window blind cord or chain.

You should:

  • look around your home from a child’s point of view to help spot potential dangers
  • examine every blind in your home – if they have a looped control chain or cord and do not have a safety device fitted, then you can easily install one of the many devices available
  • make sure that all blind cords and chains cannot be reached by children
  • move cots, beds, playpens, highchairs and any furniture away from windows and blinds – remember children love to climb
  • when buying a new blind, always look for one that does not contain cords, has concealed cords or has an in-built safety device and that complies with the new European Standards

You can get more information and advice, including a helpful video, on the blind cord safety page.

For further advice on how to make your home blind cord safe, contact the home safety officer at your local council or your health visitor.

More useful links

Share this page

Feedback

Would you like to leave feedback about this page? Send us your feedback



Avoid getting caught out by scams

Beware being caught out by fraudsters. There are countless ways that criminals have found to scam people out of their money, but there are steps to take to be wiser about scams and report anything you suspect is a scam.

Scams

If you respond to just one scam, your details are entered onto a list which can be used by other scammers. These are referred to as ‘sucker lists’.

It’s important that you seek help to avoid being scammed in the future.

Scams are ever changing and becoming more and more sophisticated and people are commonly targeted by email, phone and fake websites.

You can find out more, including a list of recent scams, in the following section:

Report a scam

Many people who are scammed feel they are to blame to falling for it, but it’s not their fault.

Reporting scams is vitally important, as:

  • it helps catch fraudsters
  • it can help to alert others and prevent them from falling victim

If you have – or know someone who has – been a victim of a scam or fraud, no matter how small, you should report it to the PSNI, online to Consumerline or Action Fraud. 

Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

More useful links



Barbecue and picnic food safety advice

If you’re planning on having a barbecue or picnic, there are some tips to help prevent food poisoning. Remember that keeping food cool is important. Generally, the cooler the temperature the slower germs will grow.

Barbecues

The main food poisoning risks when using a barbecue are:

  • undercooked meat
  • spreading germs from raw meat onto food that’s ready to eat

The safest option is to pre-cook your food indoors then put the cooked food on the outdoor barbecue for a short time for flavour.

When cooking burgers, sausages, kebabs, pork, turkey and chicken, always check that:

  • the meat is steaming hot throughout
  • there is no pink meat visible when you cut into the thickest part
  • meat juices run clear

Once served, food should not sit out for longer than two hours, or one hour if it’s very hot outside.

You can get more information and advice on the food safety barbecuing page.

It’s also important to be alert to the risks of carbon monoxide when barbecuing.  

Picnic food

Cases of food poisoning from campylobacter, E. coli, listeria and salmonella increase in the summer months.

Picnickers could be putting themselves at risk by:

  • leaving their food out for longer than the recommended two hours
  • carrying food to picnics in containers such as plastic bags and picnic baskets, rather than the recommended cool boxes
  • putting picnic leftovers back in the fridge or using them for a meal the next day, regardless of how long they have been left out

To help everyone enjoy their summer picnics without worry, these easy tips can help keep you safe:

  • rinse fresh fruits (including those with rinds) and vegetables under running tap water before packing them in the cool box
  • place cold food in a cool box with ice or frozen gel packs – cold food should be stored at 5 °C or below to prevent bacterial growth
  • pack drinks in one cool box and perishable foods in another – if using freezer packs (frozen drinks work well for this purpose), distribute them throughout the box, not all at the bottom
  • keep your cool box closed – once at the picnic site, limit the number of times the cool box is opened as much as you can (this helps to keep the contents cold for longer)

Once you’ve served the picnic, dishes should not sit out for longer than two hours, or one hour if it’s very hot outside. 

After this, the risk of bacteria increases and it becomes unsafe to eat, so best to throw it away when you get home. 

Find out more on the cooking for parties and events page. 

More useful links