Introduction
Creating a child-safe environment is a crucial task for parents and caregivers as young children are always inquisitive and might not understand what things in everyday life pose danger for their health. Children tend to touch, climb, open and pick various objects in order to explore their surroundings which leads to accidents quite often. The most common hazards at home are electrical sockets, sharp objects, heated surfaces, toxic cleaning products and medications, stairs, windows, and unstable pieces of furniture. Identifying these hazards and making certain adjustments parents can ensure a safer environment for exploration and learning of children.
Childproofing is not about restricting access to each part of a home completely. It is about reducing preventable hazards and protecting children from dangerous items. There are many actions which do not require any special efforts but can greatly contribute to safety of a child. These actions include storage of cleaning products, covering unused electrical sockets, locking of sharp objects and use of safety gates where necessary.
Age-appropriate measures are required for different children. Arrangement which would guarantee safety of a baby would be insufficient for a toddler who is able to climb up onto a piece of furniture and open doors and cabinets. Parents need to check their homes regularly and adjust safety measures accordingly. It is also useful to explain children some safety rules as well as to provide physical barriers.
Supervision is another thing which can help to ensure safety at home. Even with the help of various safety devices parents need to pay attention to a child especially when he or she stays near water, cooking zones, stairs and other dangerous places. The family should also be prepared for emergency situation which may happen and have basic equipment ready to handle such situation.
This guide will be devoted to measures that help to create safer environment at home in different rooms. Regular checks, proper safety devices and arrangements as well as age-appropriate safety measures can greatly improve security at home.
Electrical Outlets
The presence of electrical outlets poses potential hazards to young children, who may be inclined to experiment with touching these sockets or inserting any object into the outlet openings. For this reason, since children cannot perceive the dangers involved in electricity use, special efforts have to be taken to minimize any threats. The starting point in protecting electrical outlets would be inspecting all rooms in the house to see whether there are any easily accessible outlets, which are located near play corners, beds, and furniture.
For instance, a special outlet cover should be considered. As a rule, any safety product for children should be properly installed and designed for the outlet type used. Damaged, loose or inadequate covers should be avoided since they will hardly provide sufficient protection. In addition, if an outlet is loose, cracked, damaged or shows signs of overheating, it needs to be checked and repaired by a professional electrician.
As well, the usage of electrical cords should be organized so that it would be impossible for a child to pull it out, bite or drag an appliance connected to this cord. Cords need to be secured where necessary, and it should be avoided to place them at any walking paths within the room. Power strips and extension cords should be placed out of reach for children.
At this, the process of teaching electrical safety tips to children should be started when they become capable to understand it. Thus, the child should learn that electrical outlets, plugs and any electrical devices are not toys, and one should never touch anything of this kind with wet hands. At the same time, teaching alone will not provide sufficient security measures.
It is essential to check regularly electrical outlets, plugs and cords for any defects. Any liquid should be kept away from any electrical contacts. In case there are signs of sparking, burning smell, overheating or frequent problems with electricity, it will be necessary to stop using such an outlet and call a professional.
By securing all accessible outlets, organizing electrical cords, checking electrical appliances, and teaching the child electrical safety tips, people can eliminate the major electrical hazards at home.
Sharp Objects
Sharp objects are present in every household, and these can pose a great danger to children who do not know how easy it is to cut themselves. Kitchen knives, scissors, razor, needles, various tools, and other sharp objects need to be stored in places that will keep them out of children’s reach. The very first thing you need to do is identify sharp objects that are present in your household and choose a place where they can be stored.
Knives, scissors, other cutting tools, craft tools, and other such objects have to be stored in secure drawers, cabinets, and knife storage systems. Never leave knives unattended on countertops, table tops, sink, or near any edge of furniture. Scissors, sewing tools, and craft tools must be stored in close containers and other storage places.
The razor, nail scissors, and other items used in the bathroom have to be stored out of reach of children and after each usage placed into their rightful place. When a bathroom cabinet is located low enough for a child to reach it, use a child-safety lock, if necessary.
Various tools like screwdrivers, drills, blades, saws, etc. must be stored in a toolbox or some locked storage. Kids are attracted by the look of those objects, so it might not be enough to tell them not to touch them. Thus physical barrier and storage in special places are additional means of safety.
It is also recommended to check children’s toys and other craft materials. Broken toys might have sharp edges, some kinds of craft activities involve scissors and pins that can be dangerous. Children have to be watched when they are using appropriate cutting tools and taught how to use them safely.
In case a sharp object falls down, do not just leave it lying on the floor, put it away in its rightful place. Do not keep sharp objects in areas where children can play or sleep or stay unsupervised.
Kitchen Safety
There are sharp objects in any family home which could turn out to be extremely dangerous for children who would be unaware of the risks related to being injured by such items. Therefore, knives, scissors, razors, needles, tools and other sharp household objects need to be safely stored away from the reach of children. The first thing to do is to make a list of sharp items and think about how to store them.
Kitchen knives and other cutting utensils need to be stored in locked drawers, cabinets or other appropriate devices which would keep the items out of the children’s reach. Do not keep knives on countertops, tables, sink or close to the edge of any furniture. Scissors, crafting tools, sewing tools and other similar things also need to be stored in appropriate locked boxes after using them.
Bathroom objects like razors, nail scissors, grooming items and other similar products need to be stored in a way that would not allow a child to get to them. After using such items return them to their designated safe place. If a bathroom cabinet is low enough to reach for a child, use some special locking device where it is needed.
Such items as screwdrivers, drills, blades, saws and other tools need to be stored in a secured toolbox or locked storage space. Such items attract children with their look and just explaining children that they should not touch them will not help. Physical barrier to those objects is one more level of safety.
Check children’s toys and materials used for crafting as broken toys can get sharp edges and some activities will require using scissors, pins and other sharp items. Supervise children when they are using age appropriate cutting tools and teach them how to use them safely.
Do not keep dropped sharp objects lying around or somewhere else where a child may find them. Return them to their safe place as soon as possible. Keep sharp items away from the area where children usually play, sleep and stay unsupervised.
Stairs
It is very possible that stairs may lead to injuries due to falls for young children who are just learning how to walk. Thus, families need to take precautionary measures to reduce the likelihood of children falling down stairs. First, stairs should always be kept free of toys, shoes, bags and any other items that might lead to trips or falls.
Suitable safety gates may be used to stop unsupervised access of stairs by babies and toddlers. Gates must be properly installed following manufacturer’s recommendations for the particular location. It is necessary to make sure that they are fixed tightly and checked from time to time. One should not use chair and boxes as temporary barriers, because children may manage to move or climb over them.
Handrails should be properly mounted and accessible both to adults and children. The stairs should be inspected for loose steps, damaged surfaces, slippery places and worn carpeting regularly, and all such defects should be repaired. Lighting is important, too, since it allows seeing each step clearly. It may be useful to use suitable night lighting near stairways if they are located in the dark place.
Children should be taught simple stair safety rules when they are mature enough. They should be encouraged to walk not run, use handrails, and not carry toys or other items that impede vision when going upstairs. Children should be supervised when they learn using stairs.
Children should not be allowed to play, sit or climb stair railings. All furniture and other objects that children may use to climb up higher should be removed from railings and stair openings. Staircases with unusual openings or gaps in railings may require some additional safety measure for children.
Families need to inspect whole stairways from time to time depending on child’s age and maturity.
Windows
A stair may be an additional fall hazard for a child because he/she is just starting to walk and climb up and down. In order to decrease the chances of falling down the stairs, parents need to take certain precautions in advance. For example, first of all, they need to ensure that there are no toys, shoes, and any other items that can make people stumble.
Safety gates may be used by families to protect very young children from getting close to the staircase and falling down. Families should choose the appropriate type of gate according to the location and install it properly. Parents should also check from time to time whether it is working well because any loosened or broken part of it may put a child at risk.
Handrails should be solid enough for adults and children to hold. Moreover, parents should check the stairs regularly to make sure that there are no loose steps, any kind of damage, or slippery spots. The presence of proper lighting will also help people to use stairs safely because they will be able to see every step.
As soon as children are able to understand simple instructions, parents need to teach them how to behave on the staircase. They should not run and should hold the handrail when it is necessary. Moreover, they should not carry anything that can block their vision.
Parents should not allow their children to play, sit on the stairs, and climb the railings. It is necessary to keep furniture and any climbable objects away from the stair railings and openings because children can climb them and increase their height.
Moreover, it is necessary to inspect the whole staircase from time to time according to the child’s growth and abilities.
Medicines & Chemicals
Medicines and various household chemicals can be hazardous to the health of children, although these products are widely used daily. Children do not always realize the dangers and can confuse different substances, especially those with attractive packaging or smell. For this reason, it is necessary to keep medicines and other potentially harmful substances out of reach of kids.
All the medicines must be kept in a cabinet or a special place where children will not get access to them. In order to prevent children from opening bottles, one must use specially designed child-resistant containers for medicines and keep these products in their original packaging. It is recommended to refrain from storing any medication on bedside tables, kitchen countertops, in handbags, and other easily reachable places. After using medicines, they must be put in a secure place immediately.
The same principle applies to household chemicals. Bleaches, cleaners, detergents, pesticides, solvents, and other potentially harmful substances need to be stored in special places. In accordance with the instructions on the product labels, all the household chemicals must be kept in special containers, and not to transfer these chemicals into bottles or jars intended for food or drink. This can lead to a misinterpretation by a child that some substance is food.
Also, there is a necessity not to mix household chemicals unless explicitly allowed in the instructions. This can cause hazardous reactions and emissions. Household chemicals must be kept away from food preparation areas, and the open containers must be out of reach of children.
Families need to periodically check the storage cabinets and make sure that all the containers are tightly closed and that there are no potentially dangerous items within reach of kids. Expired or unnecessary medicines and household chemicals must be disposed of in accordance with local guidelines rather than keeping these products in the house.
Children need to be gradually taught that medicines and cleaning agents are not toys and food products and must be kept away from them. However, small children may not understand these principles yet, therefore secure storage is required.
In case a kid has swallowed, inhaled or got contact with any harmful substances, appropriate help must be sought immediately. Do not try to cause vomiting without consulting specialists.
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Conclusion
A home can be made safer through awareness, routine inspections, and simple changes that will address existing dangers. Young children are naturally inquisitive, thus it is not enough to hope for children to understand the danger themselves. It is better to make sure that the environment is safe for children without preventing them from playing and developing.
All available electrical outlets must be protected, and broken cords or faulty electrical equipment should be repaired or replaced. All sharp objects including knives, scissors, and any other tools must be put away. There are also several hazards in a kitchen, namely heat sources and equipment used for cooking, cutting and cleaning dishes. These places should be watched over.
Also, one should pay close attention to stairs and windows. Such things as installation of safety gates, proper railings, lighting, window locks and opening restrictors are going to protect children from falling down. In addition, furniture in a room must be arranged in a way so that children cannot use it to climb up and approach windows.
Lastly, all medicines and household chemicals must be put in a safe place and in a container that will make it impossible for children to identify its content. One must teach children that these substances should not be taken like toys or food, but nevertheless, they need protection.
Safety of a home must be controlled throughout a child’s life as it constantly grows and learns new skills. Parents need to inspect a house, repair any possible damages, remove new dangers, and arrange everything in accordance with changing safety measures.
As it can be seen, taking these precautions and teaching children how to act safely in a certain situation makes it possible to create a home which will be comfortable for a family to live in.
