Clare Adamson MSP urges child safety action ahead of Child safety Week 2025
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Child Safety Week is the flagship annual campaign of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) to help families build confidence and skills in managing the risks to children’s safety.
The theme for Child Safety Week 2025 is ‘Safety is for sharing’; it encourages you to share safety advice with as many people as possible.
Ms Adamson is the Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness.
She has been an advocate for improved safety policy and has led numerous Scottish Parliament debate on safety awareness.
Clare Adamson MSP is reminding constituents to check their energy meters as the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will be switched off on June 30, 2025.
The equipment that broadcasts the signal is reaching the end of its operational life. If you have an old RTS meter, you'll need to have it replaced with a smart meter before this date to avoid potential disruptions to your heating and hot water.
Your energy supplier should get in touch to offer you a smart meter before the RTS switch-off on Monday 30 June 2025. But Ms Adamson is encouraging people to contact their energy supplier about the RTS switch off. If your RTS meter isn’t replaced, your heating could end up always on, never on, or turning on and off at unsuitable times for you.
More info and how to tell if you have an RTS meter: homeenergyscotland.org/RTS-switch-off
Looking ahead to summer safety
This Child Safety Week, Ms Adamson is emphasising substandard goods on online platforms and, ahead of the summer, the need to ensure that children’s swimwear is safe and identifiable in the water.
The MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw said: “Awareness raising campaigns like Child Safety Week can encourage people to take small, proactive steps to reduce the number of accidents.
“This is not about preaching. Bumps, scrapes, and bruises are part of growing up; I know that from my own family. But unintentional injuries can have life changing impacts and they are not inevitable.
“We have incorporated the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law. That was one of the proudest days for our Parliament and the UNCRC includes the right to information of the prevention of accidents.
“Children from more deprived areas are disproportionately impacted by accidents and unintentional injury and it is that which drove me to advocate for better safety outcomes. It is a matter of basic social justice.
“As part of Child Safety Week 2025, I particularly want to highlight the prevalence of substandard or fake goods aimed at kids which are available online.
“There is a dangerous perception that online goods aimed at children must be safety tested. CAPT research found that 54% of parents mistakenly believe that all sellers on online platforms are checking the safety of their products.
“That is simply not the case. With ongoing financial pressures, people are understandably looking for deals. But please stick to trusted traders and do not compromise on product safety. Be particularly wary of electrical and battery devices from third party sellers on online platforms like Amazon, Ebay, and Wish. These online platforms are not subject to the same safety regulations so it is important to do your research.”
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Hidden depths
“Finally, ahead of the warmer months, people will be thinking about going in the water. I am urging parents and carers to prioritise swimwear that is easily identifiable in the water: bright contrasting colours like neon orange and yellow are good. Avoid mermaid tails and monofins; they may look cute but they restrict movement and are a big drowning risk.
“I am urging my constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw, and parents and carers across Scotland, to take safety seriously and use the free advice and resources produced by organisations like CAPT and RoSPA.
“With tips on dangers in the home: from scalds and burns; falls; poisoning; choking hazards; to road safety; safety around animals; and drowning prevention. There are simple, proactive measures you can take to ensure you and your child can avoid injury.
“Get involved in Child Safety Week in whatever way you can. There are always fun and engaging activities happening across the country and it will contribute to some really important awareness raising.”