Making Your Home a Safer Place

by Susan Crites Price

The phrase "Home Sweet Home" evokes a haven where families find comfort and security. Unfortunately, the home is also where approximately half of all non-fatal unintentional injuries to children occur. Every year, nearly 4.5 million kids ages 14 and under are hurt in their homes, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Almost all of these injuries are preventable. That's why parents need to be vigilant about home safety.

The most common causes of fatal injuries to children in their homes are fire and burns, drowning, suffocation, choking, unintentional firearm injuries, falls, and poisonings. Children ages 4 and under account for 70 percent of these deaths.

The first line of defense is careful supervision. But since you can't watch a child every second, installing safety devices in your home gives you another layer of protection.

Here's a rundown on some must-have safety equipment:

Most parents know it's critical to have working smoke detectors. But many don't know the Consumer Product Safety Commission also recommends carbon monoxide detectors to protect against poisoning from this colorless, odorless gas emitted from malfunctioning furnaces and stoves. Reasonably priced detectors can be found at home improvement stores.
To guard against falls, put gates across stairways and block openings in balconies and decks. Use bumpers on sharp-edged furniture. Specially-designed window locks prevent a child from opening a window far enough to fall out. Window guards are another option. Just be sure you don't install an unmovable guard on a window needed as a fire escape route. Put sand, wood chips, sawdust or mulch under backyard play equipment to cushion falls.
Home drownings don't only happen in backyard pools. More children drown in toilets, tubs, or a bucket with just a few inches of water. Buy special toilet latches to prevent toddlers from opening the lids. Never leave your young child unsupervised in the tub, even if he is in a bath seat; it won't prevent him from slipping under the water. To prevent scalding, keep your water heater set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Household cleaners, medicines, cosmetics and vitamins should be stored out of children's reach. Install child locks on cabinets and drawers that contain hazards such as poisonous materials or sharp utensils.
Use electrical outlet covers, not the plastic plugs which can break off in the outlet and may pose a choking hazard. Keep window blind and drapery cords out of reach with cord shorteners.
If there are guns in your home, keep them unloaded and locked away.
And keep kids away from exercise equipment. Install safety devices such as wheel and gear covers on stationary bikes as added protection.

If all this seems daunting, check the Yellow Pages to see if your community has professional child-proofers. They will inspect your home, sell you what you need and even install it.

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