CHILD SAFETY
10 Tips to Protect Children in Your Home
The house can be one of the most endearing and comfortable places for you and your family, but it is also laden with hazards that can pose serious threats. Some danger in the home is inevitable and cannot be prevented, but here are 10 suggestions of measures you can take to keep you, your children, and other loved ones as safe as you can.
1. Be Cautious with Exercise Equipment - Although door slams are the leading cause of finger injuries in children, the second most common is contact with exercise bikes and similar equipment. These instances lead to about 300 amputations in the US per year, especially in children age 5 and under. It is essential to take measures to restrict young children from playing in the vicinity of these machines. This can be achieved by moving the equipment to areas of the home with more surveillance and educating children to not touch these machines.
2. Consider Finger Protection Strips – Door-related injuries can happen on the hinge side of the door as well as the handle side. To prevent and protect children from trapping their fingers on the hinge side of the door, protective strips can be installed. These long, soft, and flexible foam strips can prevent doors from closing in an untimely manner.
3. Be Wary of Toxic Substances – In 2011, poisonings overtook motor vehicle crashes as the leading unintentional injury cause of death for all ages. Many substances can cause these poisonings, such as gases and chemicals. It is crucial that substances with toxic potential are placed carefully away from children, and that any other potential hazards are detected and addressed.
4. Guard Pools and Other Water Bodies – Children can be at risk of drowning in anywhere from pools to garden ponds to baths; from shallow to deep water. Children should never be near swimming pools without supervision and protected from doing so as well. Fences and gates protecting these instances are suggested.
5. Hinder Heat Hazards – Every year, over 100,000 people in just the US go to the emergency room due to burns and other heat-related injuries. Many of these accidents can occur in the kitchen, so it is important to be very cautious when working with cooking equipment. In addition, hot drinks are the leading cause of burns in young children, so it should be ensured that children are not given drinks until they have reached a safe temperature.
6. Keep Children Away from Paper Shredders – Paper shredders are an extremely dangerous hazard for children’s fingers. It is highly recommended to never let young children touch a paper shredder, even with adult supervision. Additionally, it is best to keep paper shredders in an area where young children do not have access.
7. Clean Glass Accidents Immediately – Broken glass can cause serious cuts, so instances of broken glass should be reported and cleaned immediately. Ensure all in the house are instructed to wear shoes until the area of the accident has been taken care of. It could also be wise to keep glass objects distant from the edges of shelves for the lowest chances of an accident happening.
8. Watch Out for Falls – Falling is a leading cause of injury in the home. Some falls are inevitable, but measures can be taken to prevent children from standing on objects to get them at greater heights, such as stools and other furniture. It can also be demoralizing for children if they fall and lead to a lack of confidence, so it is important to tend to their mental health as well as their physical health in the event of an accident.
9. Be Cautious of Electricity – Electric shock can be highly treacherous for unsuspecting young children, so taking action to protect children from electric currents is imperative. If possible, all outlets should be covered when not in use, and all wires and cables that have lost insulation should be removed and replaced instantly.
10. Teach your Children – The measures you take may be beneficial, but there is no better way to keep your children safe then to educate them on the potential dangers they face (and how to avoid them). Children are eager to learn and will figure out how to protect themselves in the present and when they grow up if shown the proper way to do so. It may be hard for your child to absorb and remember every potential risk you warn them of, so it is still necessary to take measures to guarantee their safety. However, there is no better way to keep your children safe in the short and long term than teaching them how to protect themselves.