Over 160,000 accidents happen every year, and 75% of those accidents occur within the home. With victims ranging from children to the elderly, anyone can injure and harm themselves in a home, so you must have safety measures in place, especially for your children.
Help keep your children safe by following these ten home safety tips to improve your home’s safety.
Tip #1: Cover Electrical Outlets
Children are curious, and if they see an electrical outlet, they’ll put their fingers in the little holes.
Cover all outlets with easy-to-find covers preventing children from sticking fingers and sticks in electrical outlets.
Tip #2: Safeguard Corners and Edges
It’s no surprise that children stumble and fall, especially when learning to walk. Although falling is part of the learning process, bruises and cuts don’t have to be.
Cover sharp corners of tables, counters, and chairs with rubber or plastic pads to keep your children safe.
Tip #3: Seal Drawers and Closets
Safely stowing scissors and chemical cleaners are essential for child safety, but if your child can easily access those drawers and closets, you’re not protecting them to the fullest extent.
Use child-proof locking mechanisms on drawers and closets to keep your little ones safe.
Tip #4: Blockade Stairs and Elevated Surfaces
Anyone can get hurt when walking upstairs and on other elevated surfaces, but children are most susceptible because they often can’t reach the handrail.
Install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs to keep your children from climbing without supervision.
Tip #5: Hide Medicines
What we know to be medicine, children see as candy. Hiding medicines in hard-to-reach cabinets ensures your children can’t get to them. However, don’t stop there.
Children are motivated and intelligent. If they can find a stool or chair to help climb the counter, they can still access the medicine cabinet. Be sure to install a lock on the cabinet just as you would for cleaning chemicals.
Tip #6: Dispose of Plastic Bags
Although you might find recycling and reusing plastic bags helps reduce waste, don’t leave them lying around. If you can’t dispose of plastic bags once you’ve unloaded groceries, store them in a location your child(ren) can’t reach and lock the cabinet.
Tip #7: Cover or Tie Up Cords and String
Another essential safety measure is to tie up cords and strings, especially those hanging from blinds and lights.
Although these aren’t dangerous, if a child gets tangled in them while playing, they can cause severe damage.
Tip #8: Lock Up Firearms
Use a gun safe to lock up your firearms to keep curious children safe. Children are incapable of opening a safe.
However, if a safe isn’t a viable solution, use a trigger lock on your firearms.
Tip #9: Install a Sturdy Fence
The last eight tips considered indoor safety, but outdoor security is just as important.
A sturdy fence gives your children and pets a defined playing area while keeping intruders out. Additionally, a strong wall ensures that your children and toys can’t accidentally escape.
Tip #10: Cover Your Pool
Everyone loves a nice swim in the pool during the summer. However, when it’s not in use, cover your swimming pool.
Anyone can slip and fall near a pool, but children are especially susceptible because they don’t realize the dangers.
Conclusion
Children are lovely, and adults need to do all they can to protect them from danger. When you follow these ten tips, you start the process of protecting your children in the most dangerous place–their home.
