Parents should strive to keep the family home the safest place for their children. Each year, more than 9.2 million children in the US are treated in emergency departments for injuries, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of these injuries happen at home, sometimes even with the presence of a parent.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risks of home accidents, like falls, burns, and drowning, which are the leading causes of injuries among children. Follow this step-by-step guide to childproofing your home.
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Keep unsafe rooms and cabinets locked.
If you don’t want your toddlers to enter rooms and storage areas that are unsafe for them, make sure to keep the doors to these spaces locked. Doorknob covers are also a great option. It keeps the content to such areas accessible to you but makes it extra difficult for those little hands to turn the knob.
Place safety gates at the tops of stairs.
To help protect your kids from a dangerous fall, be sure to place hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway in your home. According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, children younger than 5 years are being treated in US emergency departments every six minutes for stair-related injuries. While installing safety gates is important and effective, it should not be a substitute for adult supervision. Ensuring your staircase is built to code is also relevant for maintaining safety in your home.
Use a pool cover.
A swimming pool can be a great addition to your home. It provides your family a place to relax and stay cool in the summer heat. However, they can also be dangerous to children, especially the little ones who don’t know how to swim. Luckily, there are easy ways you can childproof your home swimming pool. These include using a pool cover to prevent kids from falling in the water. Other great options would be to install a pool safety fence and pool alarms that alert you when your child wanders into the pool area.
Put protective covers on all electrical outlets.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 24,000 children under 10 years of age fall victim to incidents related to electrical receptacles. Inserting a hairpin into a receptacle can cause a child to suffer from first to second-degree electrical burn to a finger. Prevent this dangerous situation from happening by placing protective or childproof safety covers on all your electrical outlets at home. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you install tamper-resistant electrical receptacles. These receptacles can greatly reduce the potential for electrical shocks and burns and help you better protect your family, especially children, from the dangers associated with electricity.
To help you childproof your electrical system at home, do not hesitate to ask for the help of a licensed electrical contractor. Working with the pros will not only guarantee you excellent results but will also let you learn more about maintaining comfort and safety in your household. Call your trusted residential electrical company today!
