While it may seem like the home should be the safest place for your children, there are thousands of child home safety accidents every year. Statistics show that most household accident victims are under four years old, so be sure your child is protected from dangers in the home. Smoke alarms, doorway gates, socket guards, and window locks are among the precautions you can take to make your home safer. Here are some additional child home safety tips to help you and your family avoid tragedy this year.
Use doorway gates to limit your child’s access to dangerous areas. You can find adjustable doorway gates of almost any size in the child home safety section of your local home improvement store. Block off access points to the kitchen, garage, and any stairwells you may have. Be sure to place a gate at the bottom of the stairs, as well as the top. A child can climb up a few steps from the bottom and fall from there as easily as they can fall from the top of the staircase.
If you do decide to allow your children into the kitchen, be sure to keep all hazardous chemicals and knives out of their reach. Refrigerator and cupboard locks are a good way to limit their access to these dangerous items without having to rearrange your entire kitchen. Be sure to keep the handles of any pots and pans from hanging over the edge of the stove. A curious child may grab the handle and burn himself by bringing the hot pan’s contents down upon his head.
For the ultimate in child home safety, there are a number of protective guards you can buy to cover up electrical sockets, prevent doors from slamming, or cushion sharp corners of the walls. If falling out of bed is a problem, there are rails that can be attached to the sides to keep children from rolling out onto the floor. Most models can conveniently fold down when not needed. Be sure to fasten all bookcases securely to the walls so your child cannot pull them down. Install child-proof locks on all windows, whether or not you think your child can reach them. Many child home safety accidents occur because a child is able to climb up to something thought unreachable by the parent, so you can never be too careful.
Fire safety is a must in any home with children, so check your smoke alarms regularly. Carbon monoxide monitors are also a good idea as you will not know the signs of poisoning until it is too late. Place several alarms throughout the house to increase the chances that your child will actually wake up in case of fire. Most young children sleep more soundly than adults throughout the night, so the volume may have to be adjusted until they are older. If your home has a fireplace, install a child home safety screen to prevent your children from reaching or walking into the fire.
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