BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- New parents identified less than half of the safety hazards in an experiment using a simulated home environment, U.S. researchers said.
Lead author Joanna Gaines, a University of Alabama at Birmingham doctoral student, and UAB pediatric psychologist David Schwebel found that parents recognized 47 percent of the safety hazards placed inside a home setting.
"One would hope that parents might recognize all or almost all of the safety hazards present. If they don't recognize hazards, they cannot act for prevention, thus placing their children at risk of serious injury," Gaines said in a statement.
The study's authors said many of the 44 parents of children ages 12 months to 3 years made statements such as: "My child isn't curious about the toilet," or "My child knows not to play with matches," suggesting parents tend to perceive their children as being somewhat invulnerable or smarter, safer or developmentally more advanced than other children.
The study appears in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

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