Accidents will happen

Staying safe in the home…

Each year around 2.5 million children are injured in accidents at home. It’s a no-brainer – accidents happen as children develop and explore. Trouble is that kids are naturally curious but don’t have the experience to understand the hazards around them. Think about it: to your todder, those open drawers look like an exciting climbing frame – but they can cause serious injury if that chest of drawers isn’t properly secured.

Most accidents are preventable – so check out these room-by-room tips for keeping your home safe…

In general…

Keep these basic safety tips in mind…

• Install smoke and carbon dioxide alarms and regularly check the batteries.
• Seal unused power sockets with socket covers.
• Keep curtain pull cords out of reach.
• Make sure electrical appliances don’t have frayed cords.
• If you have a gun, store it unloaded, in a locked case specifically for that purpose. Store ammunition separately, also in a locked case.

In your kitchen…

The most serious children’s accidents happen in the kitchen. While it can be a great learning zone for younger kids, you need to closely supervise them at all times.

• If your child is helping you at work surface level, put some simple rules in place such as ‘always ask before you touch’ and ‘never touch knives’, and repeat them often.
• Use the rear plates on the stovetop and turn pot handles to the back so they’re are out of your child’s reach.
• Never leave a hot drink and a child alone in the same room – a hot drink can still scald a child 15 minutes after it’s made.
• Secure the dishwasher with a childproof latch, or use the lock if it has one.
• Keep cleaning products, plastic bags and knives well out of reach – preferably under lock and key.
• Always strap your baby into his highchair with a three-point harness that fits between his legs also, and never leave him unattended in his highchair.

In your bathroom…

Supervision is the key here, too: children can drown in less than two inches of water, and should never be left unattended near water even for a moment. Hot water is another danger zone – round 2,500 under-5 attend ERs each year as a result of bath water scalds.

• Set your water heater to a maximum of 120°F. For younger children, use a bath thermometer to make sure the water isn’t too hot.
• Never leave your baby unattended in a bath seat.
• Drain the bath water the minute you take your child out of the bath.
• Always use non-skid mats in the tub and on the floor.
• Beware of leaving curling tongs or hair straighteners within reach, even when cooling.
• Store medicines, cosmetics, mouthwashes and cleaning products out of reach (where possible, buy products in child-resistant containers).
• Fit a childproof safety latch to the toilet.
• If possible, lock the bathroom door when it isn’t in use or fit a childproof doorknob cover so your child can’t get in there without you knowing.

In your family room…

As the busiest room in the house, it’s not surprising that most accidents happen here. Anticipation is crucial to prevention, so to avoid accidents:

• Tidy up toys after use to prevent falls and trips. Both you and your child will benefit if you make it routine to put away one game before he moves on to the next.
• Install guards on open fires and heaters to stop children touching hot surfaces and flames
• Use safety glass in all glass doors, window and glass furniture, particularly those at low level.• 
• If you have large items of furniture such as bookcases or entertainment units, secure them to the walls to prevent them tipping over on your child.
• Use corner cushions on coffee tables.
• Check that any houseplants you have are not poisonous.

On the stairs…

Stairs are a major danger zone in the home.

• Use a self-latching safety gate at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• As soon as you and she feel confident, teach your child to crawl downstairs backwards or scoot down from step to step on her bottom, with you in front of her. 
• Young children can’t carry things up and down stairs – carry it for them.
• Never leave toys lying at the top of a flight of stair or on the stairs themselves.
• If your child falls down the stairs and is knocked unconscious, call 911 immediately.

In your child’s bedroom…

You may think your child’s bedroom is the safest room in the house but that’s not necessarily the case.

• Make sure your child’s crib slats are no more than two inches apart, use a firm mattress and avoid crib bumpers and soft bedding, such as comforters.
• Don’t position her cot under a window or near curtains.
• Use screwcap nightlights so a toddler can’t access the lightbulb.
• Seal unused power sockets with socket covers.
• Mobiles should be removed once your baby can sit up.
• If you use a toy chest, ensure it has air holes to prevent suffocation if your toddler should climb in and that the lid can’t slam down on your child’s fingers.
• For older kids, avoid using bunk beds if you can – it’s thought that over 30,000 kids are injured each year falling out, getting trapped in the guardrail, or if the top bunk collapses.

In your garage…

A garage packed with tools and equipment may seem like a playground to a mischievous preschooler.

• Keep oil, gasoline and any other automotive products locked out of reach. The same applies to disinfectants, detergents, pesticides and other garden chemicals.
• Lock away power tools and store any keys needed to start them separately.
• Ensure your garage door is equipped with a motion detector so it will reverse if anything is underneath it, and install the control pad high up on the wall so young children can’t reach it.
• Keep your child inside when you’re mowing the lawn, and don’t let your child play on the lwan if you have applied fertilizer or any other chemicals.
• If you have a pool, fit a pool fence at least five feet high and a self-closing gate with a childproof latch.

 

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