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Keep Your Child Safe and Injury Free at Home
Most parents tend
to be extra vigilant when taking their children outside
of the home so it might be somewhat shocking to learn
that most accidents actually happen at home. If you
take a moment to think about it, there are potential
hazards in each room of a typical home. This article
will outline the main ones. It's important to note however,
that no matter how safe you make your home good supervision
remains essential.
The kitchen is an area where there are
a lot of dangers for young children. They naturally
want to be where the action is and the kitchen is often
a hub of activity in many households. It's a good idea
to keep young children busy and safe by making a low
cupboard or drawer their own. Fill it with plastic kitchen
ware, empty plastic food containers, plastic measuring
cups, plastic strainers, wooden spoons or mixing bowls.
Little people love to 'help out' in the kitchen and
can be given a little cold water to stir, serviettes
to fold, or placemats to arrange while dinner is being
prepared. When cooking, use the back burners, keep the
handles of pots and pans turned towards the back of
the stove and the kettle well out of reach. Store all
cleaning agents, vitamins and medicines high where they
can't be reached and install child safety cupboard latches.
Many household cleaners are in attractive, bright containers
and may therefore be very appealing to young children.
If children see their parents taking medication they
might want to as well. When it's time to eat, take a
few minutes to remove bones from meat and fish and cut
food into small pieces. Using placemats is preferable
to a table cloth which can be tugged and pulled at.
Always use the safety belt on high chairs and never
let children stand up in them. It's best to train toddlers
and children of all ages to remain seated when eating
to reduce the chance of choking.
The bathroom is another potentially
dangerous area around the home. Keep medicines in a
locked cabinet or one that is out of reach. Child safety
latches are a good idea in the bathroom too - to keep
little ones away from toiletries and makeup. Keep the
lid of the toilet closed and avoid using solid toilet
bowl cleaners in the tank. Some brands of these cleaners
are the colors of candy and juice and might be enticing
to little eyes. Community health nurses recommend when
running a bath run the cold water first then the hot.
Finish off with more cold to cool the faucet. Be sure
to test the water before letting the child into the
tub. Place a non-slip mat in the bathtub and never leave
a child alone in the bathtub for any reason. Although
it's tempting to run and answer the phone or put the
laundry in the dryer since it will only take a second,
remember that a child can drown in very little water
in that same time so constant supervision is necessary.
Another common living space with conceivable
hazards for young children is the den or family room.
Televisions and bookshelves are exceedingly heavy and
could seriously harm a child if they were to topple
upon them. It is therefore recommended to secure the
television set and book cases and keep the VCR and other
electronic equipment out of reach. Any large pieces
of furniture should be anchored and sharp corners padded.
When children are crawling and grasping for things to
hold onto, anything free standing that could topple
is a problem. For this reason it's a good idea to replace
free standing lamps with wall or ceiling lighting.
Make the child's room a safe haven.
Ensure blind cords are out of reach or install the pull-down
variety. Make sure the crib mattress fits snugly and
that there are no spaces in the headboard. Never put
a pillow, duvet or quilt in the crib. If you are planning
to get a second-hand crib, check the date printed on
the crib. If it was made before 1986, it is not safe.
Place your baby on his/her back to sleep to prevent
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Always remove baby's bib
before putting him/her in a crib or play pen.
Overall home safety should include working
smoke alarms in the bedrooms and hallways on each level.
In addition, stairs should be protected with safety
gates on each end. Unused outlets should have plastic
outlet covers on them. When safe-guarding the yard,
it is best if ornamental ponds and swimming pools are
completely surrounded by fences and a locking safety
gate between them and the house.
Parents will feel more secure knowing
that they have done what they can to prevent accidents.
Inevitably though, accidents will happen and while a
kiss and a hug better will 'treat' most, it's a good
idea to learn some first aid. Community centers often
have first aid courses to teach parents how to treat
common injuries in children. As they grow up and are
able, teach your child how to use the phone to call
for help in an emergency. Teach them their full name,
address and telephone number as well as your name. Keep
a list of emergency numbers near the phone where they
can see them easily.
Some planning and effort put into home
safety will help to ensure a more safe and happy environment
for children. Look at your home with a critical eye
and even sit on the floor so you can simulate the gaze
of a child. Ask yourself what could fall, what their
little hands might get caught into or what might bait
their curiosity. Remember, as children grow, the problem
areas will be different! Just when you think you've
got it all worked out, they get smarter, interested
in new things and more 'brave'. Kids is certainly
both a joy and a challenge. Creating safer home is a
fundamental part of responsible parenting.
1howto.com
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