8. KITCHEN
Install quality safety latches on drawers and cabinets that are within a child's reach.
Keep all sharp utensils, wastebaskets, and household cleaning products in a latched drawer
or cabinet.
Appliance cords should not dangle from the counter-top. A curious child could pull on that
cord and bring a heavy appliance onto his head or body.
Cook using the back burners of your stove and turn pot handles toward the rear of the stove
so your child can't pull hot food on himself. Remove stove knobs to prevent curious little
fingers from turning on the knobs. If you remove the knobs, keep one handy to use while
cooking, and store in a drawer when not in use.
Dishwashing detergent should only be poured immediately before you wash dishes. A
swallow full of detergent is a hazardous and deadly snack.
If your kitchen has a trash compactor, keep it latched. If it is key operated, keep the key out
of reach from your child.
Keep a fire extinguisher readily accessible in the kitchen and know how to use it.
Post emergency phone numbers by the phone or on your refrigerator. Include police, fire,
poison control, hospital, family doctor, and ambulance service. When in doubt, call 911.
Don't use tablecloths or placemats - your baby will pull them and what's on them down.
Prevent access to pet bowls of food and water. A child could drown in the water or choke on
the food.
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9. BATHROOM
Never leave standing water in the tub or sink. It takes very little water to create a
drowning hazard.
NEVER leave your child unattended in the bath. A good rule of thumb is to keep
one hand on your child at all times while bathing. If you must leave the room, wrap
your child in a towel and take her with you.
Reduce your hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees. A baby's skin is more
sensitive than an adult's. What is warm to us can scald a small infant.
Install a spout cover to protect from falls.
Use a non-slip mat or use non-slip stickers in the tub to prevent falls.
Remove items from around the tub ring (shampoo, conditioner, razors). When bar
soap becomes small enough to fit into a toddler's mouth, it becomes a choking
hazard.
Install a lid lock on all toilets. Toddlers can drown in just a few inches of water. In
addition, lid locks will prevent children from flushing valuables down the toilet.
Install safety latches on bathroom cabinets and drawers.
Put wastebaskets under the sink and latch the cabinet door.
Ensure that the bathroom door doesn't lock. If privacy is required, install a flip lock
at eye level to prevent people from entering.
While using your bathtub, keep all electrical appliances such as electrical razors,
toothbrushes, hair blowers, curling irons, radios and especially electrical heaters
unplugged and locked in a cabinet, away from the reach of children. Water and
electricity are a fatal mix.
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10. NURSERY
When selecting a crib:
Don't buy an older, used crib. It could be missing parts.
Corner posts should not extend more than 1/16th of an inch above the end panel.
Posts should not be more than 2 & 3/8ths inches apart to prevent the child from
getting stuck.
All hardware should be tight fitting and secure.
The mattress should fit snugly in the crib frame to prevent the child from getting stuck
and suffocating.
Avoid placing a crib near windows. If a crib is near a window, make sure that
drapery and mini-blind cords are OUT OF REACH to prevent strangulation.
Keep the crib away from lamps or other electrical appliances. Lamp cords
should be wrapped so as not to leave excess length available for a baby to
chew or pose a strangulation hazard.
Drapery and mini-blind cords present a hazard in every home. Unfortunately,
cords left in their reach have strangled many young children. Blind and shade
cords should be wrapped around wall cleats, out of reach of toddlers.
Do not place furniture under windows. Children love to climb and furniture can
serve as a ladder. When a window is open, a screen is not enough to prevent a
child from falling out and sustaining a serious injury
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11. NURSERY
Install window locks. These allow you to open the window to a safe distance (4
inches), but prevent children from opening the windows any further. Install
window guards if you plan to open the window any wider.
Keep mobiles out of the reach of the baby. Babies love to watch them, but when
your baby is old enough to reach the mobile and pull it down, it could become a
strangulation hazard.
A changing table should have guardrails and a protective strap that should be
used each time a baby's diaper is changed.
Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table. Children learn quickly how
to roll over and can fall off the moment you turn away looking for a diaper.
Electrical outlets should be covered. Baby Home Safety provides self-closing
electrical outlet covers. These spring-loaded devices close automatically when
the appliance plug is removed, alleviating the need to reinstall plastic safety
plugs after each use.
A child's closet should be free of wire hangers, mothballs, dry cleaning bags, and
any object with small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
Don't leave toys in the crib, or anything else that would help child climb out.
Remove bumper pads when your child begins pulling up to stand.
Secure furniture that can topple, such as bookcases and dressers, to the walls
with brackets.
Do not hang mirrors or picture frames above the crib; a child may reach them
and knock them off.
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12. MASTER AND OTHER
ROOMS
The master bedroom and all siblings' bedrooms
should have the same safety features as the rest
of the house.
Check the floor for dangerous items.
Empty nightstands of medication, sewing
materials, cosmetics, jewelry, buttons, manicure
tools, and other typically dangerous items.
NEVER KEEP FIREARMS IN A HOME WITH
SMALL CHILDREN. IF YOU MUST, KEEP THE
FIREARM EITHER DISMANTLED, ALWAYS05-Sep-15
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13. If any piece of furniture seems unstable, it should be anchored to the wall.
Not only can a toddler climb on large pieces, but an earthquake can send
unstable furniture crashing down.
Coffee tables should have rounded corners to avoid split temples and lips.
If glass tabletops are used, the glass should be 3/4" thick and should be
made of tempered glass or replace the glass with Plexiglass. Never use
pedestal type tables. A child who climbs on the edge of an unsecured table
could suffer a serious injury.
Install padded toddler shields on your tables to protect your children when
they fall.
Use a VCR lock to prevent children from placing little fingers or unwanted
items in the VCR.
If you have a bar in the family room, lock away all alcohol.
Remove small objects from lower shelves. These may pose a choking
hazard.
Fireplace Hearths should be padded or completely blocked off with a gate
to protect your child from the hazards of falling, as well as the danger of
the fire itself. Remove gas fireplace keys and put them out of reach of
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14. STAIRWAYS AND BANISTERS
Stairways and Banisters
Staircases have provided both adults and children with
bumps, bruises, broken bones and other injuries. Keep stairs
clear of clutter that may pose a tripping hazard while carrying
your baby.
Safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs should be
securely mounted to the wall and have a locking handle that
can be operated with one hand. Never use a pressure gate
on stairs.
Banister posts should be no more than four inches apart.
Larger openings permit children to slip through or become
lodged. Baby Home Safety recommends and installs
Plexiglass panels on stair balconies, both interior and
exterior.
Do not place furniture near a balcony. A child could climb on
the furniture and fall over the balcony
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15. LAUNDRY AND GARAGE
Keep all cleaning products and hazardous
materials up high or securely latched in a cabinet.
The garage should be off limits, at all times, to
toddlers.
Water heaters should be anchored to the wall to
avoid a burn hazard. Never store flammable liquids
or materials near the water heater since the pilot
light could accidentally ignite the fumes.
Use only garage door openers with automatic
stopping devices. These doors will automatically
reopen if they sense an obstruction.
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16. POOL SAFETY
Drowning has become the # 1 cause of death among children under the age of 14,
and near drowning can result in brain damage to a child.
Install a fence around the pool. The fence should completely surround the pool, be
at least four feet tall, and have self-latching, self-closing gates.
Never leave a child unobserved in a pool. Adult supervision is essential and a
caregiver's eyes must be on the child at all times.
If a child is missing, always look in the pool or hot tub first. Seconds count in
preventing death or disability.
If you choose to enroll a child under age 4 in a water safety course or learn-to-
swim program, know that this is primarily a way for you and your child to have fun
together in the water. The American Academy of Pediatrics does NOT recommend
swimming lessons for kids under age 4 because they are developmentally not
ready yet. It will not make your child "drown-proof", but will teach important
behaviors about water safety such as not pushing, running, diving in shallow
water, or swimming alone.
If you're using a chain link fence, ensure the openings are 1 x 1-inch so children
cannot use the openings to climb up and get access to the pool.
Consider using a gated alarm and/or closed circuit camera to monitor entry into
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17. CHILD SAFETY SEATS
Choose the correct child safety seat for your child's age and weight.
Register your child safety seat by filling out the manufacturer's
registration card and mailing it in. This is the only way to be notified if
there is a recall or problem.
Install your child safety seat correctly. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions EXACTLY or better yet, have your child safety seat installed
by a National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA) certified
installer. A seat that is not installed correctly will not offer your child the
best protection in the event of a crash.
Always buckle your child into a child safety seat EVERYTIME your child
rides in the car-no exceptions. The harness should be snug and the
chest clip should be at the level of the child's armpits.
Infants should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are AT LEAST 20
pounds and one year-longer if possible.
If your child safety seat is in use and a crash occurs, retire it gratefully
and purchase a new one. Damage to the seat may not be visible and
can render the seat unsafe.
NTSHA estimates that proper use of car seats could prevent up to 71%
of deaths and 67% of injuries sustained in accidents.
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18. TOY SAFETY
Everyone who buys toys should remember that
playthings are safe only when they are chosen
according to a child's age, interest and skill level.
Discard the plastic wrappings from the toys
immediately before they become deadly playthings.
Teach older children to keep toys designed for them
away from younger children.
Keep toys and play equipment in good repair. Discard
toys that can't be made safe.
Teach children to put toys away. Leaving playthings
on sidewalks and stairs can cause falls.
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19. DECORATING WITH PLANTS
Plants can be toxic. Know the names, both
common and scientific, of all plants in your home
and garden. In some cases, ingestion of
poisonous plants may include symptoms such as
nausea, burns in the mouth and on the hands, a
burning throat, convulsions, gastric upset,
dizziness, unconsciousness, cold, clammy sweats,
difficulty in breathing and other symptoms
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20. FIRE SAFETY
Install smoke/fire detectors in each room, at a
minimum, on each floor. These detectors should be
tested on a monthly basis. Batteries should be
changed twice per year with new batteries.
Have a fire extinguisher on each floor of your home,
and know how to use it.
Devise at least two fire escape plans and practice
them.
Place all lighters and matches in a locked drawer
or metal box. Don't play games with fire. Teach
your children the dangers of lighters and matches
and to notify you anytime they find a lighter or
matches
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21. CONCLUSION
There is nothing more important than a good,
safe and secure home.
Safety is the most basic task of all, without
sense of safety non growth can take place,
without safety all energies go to defense.
If you are not safety conscious, you may
become unconscious, loose property or die.
Safety starts with you, me, all of us.
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