Household Child Safety Tips

Installing a home security system improves your and your family’s safety and well-being. But even the most advanced system cannot prevent accidents from happening. In fact, the leading cause of injury and death in children under five is accidents within the home. Here are some simple precautions you can take to safeguard your children.

• Store all poisonous materials out of reach and/or behind childproof latched doors, and that includes perfumes and cosmetic items
• Check all doorknobs and locks on closets or other areas, particularly bathrooms, to be sure a child cannot get accidentally locked inside
• Be sure cords to small electrical appliances do not dangle within a child’s reach, and always unplug the appliance after use, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms
• Fold up and store all step stools
• Keep your water heater set at 120 degrees or lower to prevent accidental scalding
• Always turn pot handles towards the back of the stove and keep children away from the stove while you are cooking
• Place hot foods in the middle of a table where a child cannot reach them, and never let table linens hang over the edge where a child can pull on them
• Always keep knives, forks and other sharp utensils out of reach
• Do not leave jewelry or other small objects around to cause a choking hazard
• If furniture such as a coffee table or desk has sharp corners, consider covering them with foam rubber until after your child’s toddler stage
• Use a safety gate at the top of every staircase; placing a gate at the bottom will also deter young children from trying to climb stairs
• If you have a fireplace, never leave fireplace tools, matches or lighters within reach

No tags