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Cabinet and
drawer latches in the kitchen that are within your child's
reach should be childproofed. To avoid
totally frustrating your children by locking them all, help them feel a
part of the kitchen by keeping a bottom drawer filled with play cups,
plates, spoons, and other safety non-breakable objects specially
earmarked for a child's kitchen play.
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Keep chairs and step stools
away from counters and the stove; if stove knobs are easily accessible to children,
use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.
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Most bathroom injuries come
from slips and falls. Apply non-skid
appliqués on the bottom of the tub or use a
rubber bath mat. Also, slide a cushioned spout guard over the
faucet. There are a number of soft faucet guards in animal and other shapes
that fit securely over the tub spouts and protect children from possible
gashes and bruises in a slippery tub. Toilet seat locks can
prevent being trapped between the seat and bowl or falling in and drowning.
Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom.
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Use anti-scald devices for
faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
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To safeguard against
poisoning be sure in your bathroom medicine cabinet has child resistant safety caps.
You can buy locking medicine cabinet inserts or small locks and latches
designed to keep medicine cabinet doors closed. A step stool in the
bathroom also poses a danger if used by a child for
exploration. Remember to keep all dangerous chemicals out of children's reach.
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One out of three child
poisoning occurs at the home of a child's grandparents, in part because older people
often buy medicines without child-resistant caps. While this
is a convenience to grandparents, they should be aware that it
could pose dangers for their grandchildren.
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Use safety gates to help
prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas.
Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms that have
hazards in them. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge
easily. For the tip of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more
secure than "pressure gates."
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Use outlet covers and
outlet plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help
protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution.
When they are not in use, unplug electrical appliances.
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Cut window blind cords and
use safety tassels to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops.
Window blind cord safety tassels on mini-blinds and tension devices on vertical
blinds and drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from
strangulation in the loops of cords. Place furniture well away from
windows.
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Position your child's crib
away from all drapery, electrical cords, and windows. Make sure the crib meets
national safety standards. Make sure the mattress and crib sheet fits
snugly. Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as
your child can reach up and touch them. Place night lights at least
three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
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Use door stops and door
holders to help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in door
hinges.
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Use a cordless phone to make
it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they are in bathtubs,
swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.
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Fireplaces can be dangerous,
even if no fire is burning. Install a glass fireplace screen to keep children from inhaling
and swallowing soot. If the fireplaces has a raised hearth, cover
the edge with a cushioned material to avoid bangs on heads or chins.
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You may also apply cushioned
corner covers to coffee tables, countertops or any other sharp corner to
decrease bruises and bumps. To prevent furniture from tipping over on
children, install furniture safety brackets that screw into the wall.
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Always use a safety belt when
your baby is sitting in a bouncy seat or swing.
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Place houseplants out of
children's reach; know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
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Keep cigarettes, matches, and
lighters out of children's reach.
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Make a fire evacuation plan
and practice fire escape routes at least twice a year.
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Keep firearms and ammunitions
safely locked away.
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Test homes built before 1978
for lead paint.
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Learn first aid and CPR.
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Place infants under one year
on their backs to sleep; never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small
child or infant.
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Place night-lights at least
three feet from crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
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Check age labels for
appropriate toys; be vigilant about choking hazards; beware of foods that children can
choke on.
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If you have a swimming pool,
install a fence (with an automatic childproof gate) that separates the house from
the pool.
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When you barbecue
outdoors, never leave children unattended around the grill. Store propane
grills where children cannot reach the knobs.
