This week we will address safety both inside and outside of your home. Use the following checklist and go through your home, room by room, to ensure your home is safe for your children.
Laundry Room Safety:
-Install a Door Knob Cover to prevent children from playing in the laundry room
-Keep all detergents and cleaners locked up in cabinets
Stairway and Banister Safety:
-Use mounted Safety Gates to help prevent falls down the stairs, and to keep children away from dangerous areas
-Use only Vertical Bar Gates, not mesh-type ones (they have holes big enough for getting a toe or foot in which can enable the child to climb over the gate)
-Gates should be securely mounted to the wall or banister at the top and the bottom of stairs. Do not install pressure gates on stairs, they are very unsafe
-Installation Kits are available for both banisters and walls (movement of the gate mounted to a wall can damage the drywall and in return will loosen the gate)
-Banisters should have balusters with no more than a 4" space. If wider than 4" then a clear Banister Guard is recommended
-Make sure any carpet on stairs is secured properly
-Install a Toddler Stairway Handrail so there is no more unsafe reaching
Fireplace Safety:
-Remove the gas jet key from the fireplace and keep it out of reach of children
-Install a Hearth Gate to keep the child away from the fireplace
-Use Hearth Padding if you have a raised hearth and do not use the fireplace
-Move the poker and other fireplace tools out of reach of little ones
-Heat vents are very dangerous as well, be sure to screw them down to the floor or use double sided tape to secure them down
Balcony & Deck Safety:
-Secure your outdoor living spaces
-Safeguard the railing of a raised deck or balcony with a mesh Deck Guard
-Check that all chairs & furniture cannot be used for climbing over railings
-Segregate the BBQ with a Hearth Gate, or keep baby indoors while it is in use (BBQ's stay hot enough to severely burn a child for 45 minutes after turning it off)
-Modern-type pipe railings with big openings can be childproofed with a Deck Guard, so the child can't get caught in between rails
-Block off the deck stairs and/or contain the child with the installation of a Gate
Driveway Safety:
-Use a retractable Driveway Guard to safeguard your child from the street
-Use a Safety Sign to warn motorists of children's presence
Door Safety:
-Use a Bi-Fold Door Lock to prevent babies from pinching their fingers or opening bi-fold doors
-Door Knob Covers can keep children from opening off-limits doors, but will allow adult use. Lever Style Knob Covers are also available
-Use a Door Pinch Guard or a Door Holder to prevent pinched fingers
-Install an Emergency Door Lock Release on all interior doors with locks, this will prevent accidental lock-ins
-Use a One-Piece Door Stop to replace all metal stops with removable rubber tips (choking hazard) also replace the flexible coiled spring type not only because of the removable tip but also to prevent pinched fingers
-Use a Sliding Door Lock/Alarm to stop access to the outside through sliding doors
Window Safety:
-Install Window Guards to help prevent falls from windows
-Use Window Stops to prevent windows from opening beyond 4 inches
-Install Window Blind Cord Wraps to prevent the strangulation hazard
-Open double hung windows at the top if possible
-Check the condition of window screen attachments periodically
Furniture Safety:
-Put Corner/Edge Cushions on sharp edges and corners of tables
-Secure all tall bookcases, dressers, and entertainment centers with Anti-Tip Safety Straps to prevent toppling. Store heavier items on the bottom shelf for stability
-Segregate tall lamps and coat racks from baby's reach
-Use the TV Guard and DVD Guard if they are exposed to baby's curious fingers
-Use Latches to secure stereo cabinets, file cabinets, or appliances
-Use Safety Straps to prevent TV's, computers, and other equipment from moving or tipping over on the child
-Remove glass top tables or install the Toddler Shield to prevent injuries
-Check all accessible drawers and remove dangerous items
-Check the underside of chairs and tables for protruding nails or screws
-Keep children away from exercise equipment, and folding chairs and tables
-Secure all furniture in the child's room and/or playroom with Furniture Safety Brackets
-All Televisions (no matter the size) should be secured to the stands or walls with the Safety Straps
Pool Safety:
-All Pools should be properly fenced off and the gate locked at all times
-Install a Gate Alarm and/or Pool Alarm
-Safety Turtle Alarm is an option. It has a wristband that locks onto the child's wrist and a base station in the house that sounds an alarm when the wristband becomes submerged in water
-Install a Patio Door Lock/Alarm up high so the child cannot reach it
-While in or around the pool with Adult supervision the young infant/child should also be wearing a PFD (Personal Floatation Device)
This checklist was created in a thorough manner, but it is just for reference. It may not cover all the child safety issues in your home, or with your child. Childproofing does not take the place of proper adult supervision; the products available only assist the parents and/or caregivers. Please never leave your child unattended. It only takes a second for an accident to happen, sometimes a lifetime to heal.
This article is the second of two parts. Last week Karen covered safety in the bathroom, kitchen, nursery, and electrical safety
Karen Sparkes is the owner of Safe Living Inc. ( www.safelivingbarrie.com ), a company that provides Canadians with home safety products and advice. If you have any further questions or situations that are not mentioned here please call Safe Living Inc. at 705-735-4333 or email info@safelivingbarrie.com .
Feeds