Did you know that each year more than 4.5 million children are unintentionally injured in their homes, according to the National SAFE KIDS campaign? Parents can do their best by preventing common serious childhood injuries by taking a close look at the layout of their home and being proactive in where the dangers lie and how to keep your children safe! Below we have listed specific dangers in certain areas of your home that you can inspect, to make sure your home is in tip-top safety shape for your kids!
The Bathroom
- Be sure to adjust your water heaters to not exceed 120° F to prevent scalding. If you live in an apartment and don’t have a separate water heater, buy and anti-scald device at your local hardware store.
- Install toilet lid locks. Kids are fascinated by water and can drown in a very small amount.
- Line the bottom of your tub with a slip-resistant mat
- Keep all medicine and bathroom cleaning products in a locked cabinet and not around, or underneath, the sink.
- Purchase a garbage pail with a childproof lid to prevent them from ingesting hazardous that might have been thrown away.
Windows & Doors
According to the Child Protective Services 3,000 children are injured from falling out of windows in their home every year.
- Window screens are not strong enough to prevent your children from falling out of windows. You need to install window stops or guards.
- If you have double-hung windows, always open them from the top and make sure to fit them with locks if they don’t have them already.
- The windows in your home should not be able to open more than 4 inches when children are present.
- Prevent strangulation with blind cords by keeping them out of your child’s reach.
- Install safety glass in windows low to the ground or French doors so they will not shatter if a child falls into them.
- Keep any furniture, or objects a child can climb on, away from all windows in your home.
- Use doorknob covers on any doors in your home you want to keep your children out of.
Kitchen
- Make sure that your oven door has a lock.
- Remove or keep magnets on your refrigerator out of your child’s reach.
- Make sure there are locks on all cabinets of hazardous cleaning materials.
- Remove your stove knobs, while not cooking to prevent them being turned on by accident.
- Store knives and utensils in a downward fashion in your dishwasher to prevent cuts.
- Always run your dishwasher immediately after putting detergent in it to prevent poisoning.
- It is recommended that all drawers & cabinets below waist level have locks.
- Lock up your spices! Did you know that less than 2 tablespoons of salt can cause a seizure in a child?
Living Areas
- Replace all sockets with childproof ones. If you can’t do that, make sure to get the plugs to go in them.
- Move all electrical cords out of immediate reach and also contain them with zip ties if at all possible.
- Move any plants off the floor area to prevent your child from ingesting it. Did you know that poinsettias and Irises are poisonous to children?
- Install safety gates at the top and bottom of all stair cases.
- Remove all of your door stops removable caps to prevent choking.
- Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they are in working order.
Lindus Construction is a full service construction and remodeling company boasting LeafGuard Gutters, GAF Asphalt Roofing, SeasonGuard Windows/Siding/Insulation & decking just to name a few. Give us a call at 1-800-873-1451 or check us out at www.lindusconstruction.com to set up a free no-obligation estimate. Tune into 830 WCCO every Saturday from 9a-10am with Denny Long & Andy Lindus for our Home Improvement Show!
