A CHARD mum is calling for parents to be more aware of the dangers of vacuum cleaners after her 16-month-old son received fourth degree burns and may be in need of a skin graft and surgery.

Jade Bishop, of Phelps Close in Chard, took to social media after the incident to warn fellow parents about the dangers of children and vacuum cleaners.

Her appeal has had more than 2,600 reaction, 8,300 shares and 2,400 comments.

She said: "So I wasn't going to post this for a few reasons, mainly the criticism from people and the fact that I felt like the world’s worst mum, but it appears to be a lot more common than I ever realised. I just want people to realise the dangers of children and vacuum cleaners.

“So basically my little man, being the inquisitive 16-month old he is, loves to follow me around while I vacuum the house. Yep, no big deal, he even pushes it and helps me occasionally.

“So I turn the Dyson vacuum off and turn my back to unplug it from the wall. I hear Theo turn it back on and turn my head to hear him screaming.

"I yank the plug from the wall and he has managed to put his thumb in the bottom of the Dyson where the bristles spin at a crazy speed.

"I go to him quicker than I ever have to see he's got a nasty looking burn on his hand. I get him straight to the minor injuries unit (crying my eyes out panicking) thinking we would be dressed, bandaged and sent on our way to heal.

“But no, we are referred to Bristol Children's Hospital to see burns specialists and plastic surgeons the next day, with a fourth degree burn and possibly exposed tendons.

"They are now talking about possibilities of skin grafts and surgery, nasty scarring with restricted movement as he grows, having his burn cleaned and redressed every three days and an appointment with specialists weekly - all from no longer than five seconds of having his thumb in that vacuum.

“Please, please, please do not let your children near the vacuum cleaners.

"After talking with my nurse and her telling me just how common this kind of burn is it makes you realise that; a) I'm not the world’s worst mum (in actual fact I'm the Miss Health and Safety), and b) we are not the first and we won't be the last.

“But making people aware of it could stop just one more tiny finger or thumb from ending up like this. I just do not want any other parents to feel like I have the last week.”

A spokesman from Dyson said: “This is a heart-wrenching accident.

"Vacuum cleaners can be very tempting to little fingers but they are very powerful machines not to be toyed with.

"We hope Theo has a full recovery.”