|
According to a recent survey conducted by Lowe's Home Safety Council, we as parents are not making the grade as far as home safety is concerned! The survey revealed over half of the parents surveyed were unable to identify the main causes of unintentional injuries among kids. The survey also showed we do not have the basic safety equipment needed to make our homes safe.
FACT: Every 5 seconds, a unintentional injury occurs in the home!
Major Risk Area's in Home Safety
- Fires and Burns
- Poisons
- Falls
- Choking, Suffocation,and Strangulation
- Electricity
Ways to Keep Your Home and Children Safe
Fire and Burns
*Put smoke detectors in the kitchen, each hall, and all bedrooms if you can. Check them often to make sure they are in working condition.
*Devise a escape plan. Have practice drills. Learn the plan with your children, make sure you have a meeting place.
*When cooking turn the pot handles toward the inside of the stove.
*If your stove has the knobs on the front of the stove buy knob covers. Theses can be found at most discount stores...Walmart, K-mart etc. They are inexpensive and could help prevent injury!
*To prevent scalds and burns with water turn your hot water heater temp. down. Or you can put knob covers on the handles to prevent little hands from turning the water on themselves!
Poisoning
*Keep the Poison control number by your phone.
*Keep all poisons and poisonous substances up high or in a locked cabinet inaccessable to children. Cabinet locks are very inexpensive and could save your childs life!
*Keep a bottle of Syrup of Ipeac handy. This induces vomiting, but cannot be use with just any substance so ALWAYS call your posion control!!!!!
Falls
*Put away unstable or rickety furniture, that could be pulled over.
*Secure tall bookcases or other furniture that could be pulled down.
*Install a safety gate at the top of stairs. Place the latch on the farthest side from your childs reach.
*Never leave anything on the or near the stairs you can trip over while walking or carrying younger children.
*Install hand-rails on stairs and steps.
*Put slip resistant mats or finishes in the bath and shower and outside the tub. Install grab bars or handles in the bath if possible.
Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation
*
|
