Home Safety Tips

CAUTION: CHILDPROOFING IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ADULT SUPERVISION

General Safety

Now that you have brought home your bundle of joy, your life is going to change in an exciting way. As a parent, you need to be more aware of what is in and around your home. If you are not prepared, your child's curiosity could be dangerous or fatal.

• Each year in the United States, approximately 6,000 children die and another 120,000 are seriously injured or permanently disabled due to PREVENTABLE household accidents.
• Everyday, 39,000 children sustain injuries serious enough to require medical attention, totaling more than 14 million children each year.
• Children are 7 times more likely to die from a PREVENTABLE household accident than from all childhood illnesses combined.
• Each year, more than 2.5 million children are treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries.
• The No. 1 cause of death among infants and toddlers is PREVENTABLE household accidents.
• Help keep your child from becoming a statistic and PREVENT accidents before they happen!

Childproofing is not a one-time procedure but an adopted way of life. Your child is constantly evolving so it is important that spotting the next potential hazard becomes second nature. The best way to PREVENT accidents from occurring is direct adult supervision and childproofing your home. Here are some other tips to get you started.

• It is a good idea to get down on your hands and knees and look around from your baby's perspective. This really helps spot potentially dangerous objects. For example, an ordinary plant can be poisonous if a curious baby decides to taste it. Even toddler toys left lying around by an older sibling should not be within baby's reach. The most important place to have a safe environment is in your home.
• When checking your home, it is also a good time to be sure baby does not have access to swimming pools, toilets, diaper pails, cleaning buckets, bathtubs, showers or hot tubs. It is possible for a baby to drown in as little as two inches of water. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury related death among one to four year olds.
• Medicines, bleaches, oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents, polishes, waxes, matches, cigarettes and lighters are also dangerous to your baby. These should always be kept out of your baby's reach.
• Make sure all alcohol is out of reach of children. It is extremely toxic!
• Childproof safety locks for cabinets and drawers can be helpful to deter access to your baby.
• Use child-resistant packaging as it can help save baby's life. Keep the number of the poison control center near your phone so you can call for emergency first-aid advice.
• NEVER line trash cans with plastic trash bags due to the choking and suffocation hazard it poses.
• Water temperature should be adjusted to 125-130 degrees or less to help prevent scalding.
• NEVER place children to sleep on pillows, cushions, waterbeds, beanbags or any other surface not designed for infant sleep.

Nursery

• Special attention to electrical safety should be observed in the Nursery. Please see the Electrical Safety section.
• Blind Cleats should be installed to keep blind cords out of reach of children.
• Some type of secondary Window Lock or Window Guard should be placed on each window.
• When selecting a changing table, look for one with straps that help prevent baby from falling. ALWAYS use these straps to restrain baby when the changing table is in use. Be sure any baby products you need, such as powder or wipes, are easily accessible. NEVER turn your back on baby when reaching for baby products.
• Most importantly, NEVER leave baby unattended, even for the shortest moment.
• Crib Safety
  • Infants should always sleep in a crib that meets current federal and ASTM standards.
  • Choose a firm mattress that is designed for your specific crib. The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than two fingers width between the edge of the mattress and the crib side, as baby can get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.
  • ALWAYS use crib sheets that fit securely and wrap around the corners of the mattress.
  • Use bumper pads that fit around the entire crib and tie securely into place. Once the child can pull up to a standing position, bumper pads need to be removed to reduce the risk of the child climbing out of the crib.
  • Mobiles need to be kept out of reach of children and removed as soon as they can pull themselves up.
  • Remember to ALWAYS keep the drop side up when baby is in the crib.
  • NEVER place your crib near windows, draperies, blinds or wall mounted decorative accessories with long cords.
  • Make sure there are no missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib.
  • Crib slats or spindles should be spaced no more than 2 3/8" apart, and none should be loose or missing.
  • Never use a crib with corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end panels (unless they're over 16" high for a canopy).Babies can strangle if their clothes become caught on corner posts. These should be unscrewed or sawed off, and the remaining end panel should be sanded smooth.
  • Cribs should not have any splinters or sharp edges.
• For Baby Under 12 Months...
  • Normal, healthy infants should ALWAYS sleep on their backs unless otherwise advised by a pediatrician. NEVER place your crib near windows, draperies, blinds or wall-mounted decorative accessories with long cords.
  • Remove sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys, and other pillow-like products from the crib.
  • Cover baby with a thin covering, such as a crib blanket, receiving blanket or other blankets specifically designed for infants, only reaching as far as baby's chest, and tuck the covering around the crib mattress. For newborns, consider swaddling.
  • Do not overdress your baby. Consider using a sleeper or other sleep clothing as an alternative to any covering.

Gates

Quality Safety Gates should be used to contain your baby in a specific area or to barricade them from a specific hazard. A MOUNTED safety gate should be installed at the top of every stairway. Gates also need to be installed at the bottom of the stairs or across the openings of a specific room to "corral" the child into a child safe area. Many families choose the "corral" method and gate off their main living area. Often times, this allows for closer adults supervision of the child since the parent knows the child is within the gated area.

• Anchor the gate securely in the doorway or stairway.
• Always close the gate when you leave the room and never leave baby unattended.
• Some gates are not appropriate for use at the top of a stairway, especially "pressure" mounted gates.
• NEVER use "accordion style" gates.
• Look for the JPMA Certification Seal.

Stairways

Install mounted gates at top and bottom of stairways or to "corral" baby away from stairs. Cover any spaces exceeding four inches between balusters using durable Plexiglass or netting. Install mounted gates at top and bottom of stairways or to "corral" baby away from stairs. Cover any spaces exceeding four inches between balusters using durable Plexiglass or netting.

Electrical

• Install self-closing outlets on frequently used outlets and any outlet that has something plugged into it.
• Install outlet covers on outlets that have items plugged in that you seldom or never unplug.
• Any remaining unused outlets should be blocked off with outlet plugs. Make certain that these plugs are tight and not easily removed. If they can be easily removed, install a self-closing outlet.
• Cords from phones, answering machines and small appliances should be bundled with plastic wire ties and tied out of reach of small children.
• Tie lamp cords in a knot around a table leg to prevent lamps from being pulled off. If using "power strips" for electronic equipment, install a power strip cover or mount them inside the television or stereo cabinet and out of sight of children. This also helps to clean up "spider webs" of wires behind cabinet.

Kitchen

Use back burners on stove first to reduce risk of burns. If using front burners, always turn pot handles inward. With gas ranges, install stove knob covers or remove knobs completely, leaving one at back of counter or in top cupboard. Stove shields and oven locks should be installed, where appropriate, to prevent little hands from getting burned. Floor standing ovens should be anchored to the floor so that they do not tip forward. To check your oven, grab the back of the oven and pull forward or open the oven door and push down. The oven should not tip forward. If the oven is not properly installed, have a qualified appliance service company repair the problem. Keep dishwasher locked or install an appliance lock. If latching is not possible, point sharp utensils downward. DO NOT add dishwashing detergent until you plan to run the washer. The detergent is poisonous. Cabinets and drawers below counter level should be securely latched. Use high quality latches designed to be used with your specific cabinetry, and take special care to install them correctly. Many of the latches available in retail stores are inferior quality and do not work correctly on all styles of cabinets and drawers. All cleaners, detergents and other chemicals and poisons should be stored out of the reach of children, even if latches have been installed. Knives and sharp objects should be kept toward the back of drawers even if lathes have been installed. Garbage should always be inaccessible. Avoid using tablecloths, as they and everything on them can be pulled off the table. If designating a drawer or cupboard for baby, make sure that it is the one furthest from the stove.

Bathrooms

Never leave a child alone in the tub, even for a moment. Install a tub spout pad and a tub mat in the bathtub to reduce head injuries and risk of slipping. Remove soap chips and shampoo from the edge of the tub. Toilet locks should be installed on every toilet to reduce risk of drowning, and toys being played with or flushed. Do not use automatic bowl cleaners. They contain chemicals and only make the water more attractive to children. Unplug hair dryers and curling irons when not in use to help reduce the risk of shock. Keep razors, scissors and medicines up high and out of reach. Collect all medicines including but not limited to, prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements and place them in a safe container on the top shelf of a closet or other area NOT accessible to children. Never take medication in front of a child or call it candy when administering to a child. Keep Ipecac on hand, but never use it without consulting Poison Control Center (1-800-876-4766).

Bedrooms (Other than nursery)

Secure windows so they cannot be opened more than four inches. Install electrical safety devices. (See Electrical section) Secure any top-heavy furniture with quality furniture straps. Remove any dry cleaning bags from closets immediately upon arriving home from dry cleaners. Lock or secure closet doors. They contain many choking and safety hazards.

Living Areas

Remove or block off tall floor lamps that could be pulled over. Install blind cleats to lift and secure cords high, out of reach of baby. Secure any top-heavy furniture with quality furniture straps. Pad sharp edges on tables and furniture with table cushions or foam edging. Install flame resistant padding on fireplace hearths. If you intend to utilize the fireplace while your baby is in the room, install a hearth gate to keep baby away from heat and flames. Glass tops in coffee tables may be replaced with sheets of Plexiglas or completely removed. Keep plants away from children. Not only are some poisonous, but leaves and dirt are choking hazards.

Laundry Room and Garage

Keep as many of your cleaning products in the laundry room as possible. Store them in a locked cabinet out of reach of children. If possible, install a lock on the laundry room door. The garage should be off limits to infants and toddlers. Never leave your child sleeping in the car in the garage. Unplug all power tools and put away any projects you are not working on. Lock away paint, fertilizer and other chemicals. If you have automatic garage door openers, be sure they have automatic stopping devices installed. Water heaters should be securely strapped to the wall.

Fire Safety

Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children and teach them the dangers of playing with fire. Install fire/smoke detectors in every room and one carbon monoxide sensor on each floor. Have a fire extinguisher on every floor of your home. Develop a minimum of two fire escape routes and practice them.

Pool Safety

Supervision is always your primary layer of protection, however 69 percent of the drowning incidents occurred when parental supervision failed and there were not other "backup layers" in use. Have multiple layers of protection surrounding your pool. A pool safety barrier (fence) separating the pool from your home and all access doors and entrances is the most important layer of protection. Pool barriers should have self-closing and lock doors and should be at least five feet tall. Place locks up high and out of children's reach on gates to the pool area as secondary layer of protection. Install alarms on access doors from the home as another layer of protection. Consider water survival training for children when they are capable of crawling or walking to the pool. CPR and your knowledge of rescue techniques are also an important layer of protection should there be an accident. NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN OR NEAR ANY BODY OF WATER FOR EVEN A SECOND!

Firearms

If you have children, it is recommended that all firearms be removed from the house. More children are killed every year from playing with firearms found in the home than for self-defense against intruders. If you decide to keep firearms in your home, please keep them out of sight and reach of your children and follow some basic safety precautions. All guns should be kept unloaded. All guns should be securely locked up and equipped with trigger locks. Ammunition should be locked up in a separate location from firearms. Guns and other weapons should be stored out of site of visitors and inaccessible to children.

Poison Hazards

Poison Control Center (800) 876-4766

"75% of accidental poisonings of children under the age of five involve such common household items as cleansers, cosmetics, and medicines." -Redbook Magazine