- Curtain cords can cause strangulation in homes with small children.luxury curtain image by Andrejs Pidjass from Fotolia.com
Safety hazards lurk around nearly any home. In most cases you can take measures to lower the risk of injury or death. Common household items present more hazards in homes with small children. Be aware of potential dangers to stay safe in the comforts of your home. - Avoid placing babies to sleep on adult beds to prevent suffocation from soft mattresses and injuries from falling off the bed or in between the mattress and the frame. Make sure children use bunk beds responsibly and that the top bed has a safety railing to prevent falls.
- Exercise equipment poses a threat to small children. Closely supervise them around the equipment, and lock them out of the room when not in use.
- Pools can cause drowning, injuries and electrocution. Place fencing and alarm systems around pools of homes with small children. Clear the area of objects to prevent injuries from tripping, and avoid playing around pool drains. Eliminate any dangers from electrocution, such as faulty underwater lighting.
- Use candles with extreme caution. Young children can move them to unsafe places or unknowingly knock them over. Place burning candles away from pets and objects that can ignite, such as curtains, newspaper, magazines and bedding.
- Large appliances and pieces of furniture, such as refrigerators, china cabinets and bookcases, have a danger of falling over onto children or adults if not properly anchored down. A disaster may occur if small children attempt to climb on unstable shelving.
- Wet floors and electrical objects are common hazards lurking in bathrooms. Use rugs and mats to prevent serious injury from slipping, and keep electrical items, such as hairdryers and radios, away from showers, tubs and sinks.
- Replace cracked or frayed cords and electrical wires immediately, and avoid overloading outlets to prevent fire. Watch cord placement to prevent tripping, and avoid placing cords underneath rugs. Discourage small children from pulling on cords, causing objects to fall on top of them. Use outlet covers to prevent children from sticking objects into outlets and electrocuting themselves.
- Little ones can easily tug on tablecloths or pull on pot handles, sending scalding hot food all over them. Use back stove burners first when cooking in homes with children, and do not leave hot irons unattended.
- Do not mix cleaning products, or place them in unmarked containers. Lock them away from small children and separate from food storage to prevent mixups and accidental poisoning.
- Inspect furnaces, fireplaces and heaters annually to alleviate any danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, warns the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Keep flammables far away, and especially use caution when using space heaters.
- Ensure the safety of children by placing furniture away from windows and installing window guards that adults can easily remove in case of fire. Avoid window treatments with hanging cords to prevent strangulation of infants and toddlers.
- Loaded guns are dangerous in homes with children. Lock them up, and hide the keys from children. Increase safety by unloading the guns and storing the bullets in a separate location.
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