More than 18,000 people, many of them children, die each year in their homes in the U.S., according to the Home Safety Council. More than 12 million non-fatal injuries occur in the home, as well. In addition to the life-changing effects of these injuries, including loss of life or disability, the economic cost to families from home injuries can be almost as devastating. Many, if not most home injuries are preventable. Take common-sense precautions to safeguard children, and make them a part of the safety process to increase the chances of a happy and healthy home.
Medication and Bathroom Safety
Keep medicines out of the reach of children. This means keeping open pill bottles off counter tops and storing them in medicine cabinets. If you drop a pill on the floor and it rolls behind the toilet, door or hamper, pick it up--even if you think it's not easily accessible.
Don't leave any cleaning products or soaps where children can reach them. Don't leave razors where children can reach them. Make sure nothing you put in a garbage can is dangerous to a child if it's taken out and played with or swallowed. Use non-slip mats in the shower or tub, and consider adding grab bars for children to use. Don't leave curling irons or hair dryers plugged in, especially near the bathtub or toilet.
Outlets
Place plastic plug-ins in all open electrical outlets. This will prevent children from sticking fingers, tongues or objects into sockets.
Kitchen Safety
Place protective latches on all cupboards and drawers to prevent children from reaching cleaning agents and sharp objects. Keep dangerous items, such as knives, on the top shelves, out of children's reach. When the stove is on, do not walk away to get something, make a phone call, answer the door or while food is simmering, unless you know where children are the entire time.
Safety Devices
You can make your home a safer place for your children by installing smoke and CO2 detectors, as well as burglar alarms. Test the devices monthly, and replace the batteries every six months. Fire extinguishers in several rooms will improve your ability to deal with a fire, especially if it blocks you from reaching one area of the house.
Drills
Make sure your children have two routes of escape during an emergency and can leave the house without adult supervision. Have the children practice using the routes before there's an emergency. You might even run a test drill late at night, waking the children, to test their ability to function in an emergency situation.
Have your children practice discharging a fire extinguisher so they have experience using one, rather than trying to put out a fire with something they've never operated. They should also be familiar with how to turn off an alarm system and call the alarm company.
Phone Numbers
Post emergency phone numbers in several locations, and have your children explain to you which numbers they should call in which situations. For children who don't know their numbers, place a diagram of the phone number pad with directions for dialing 911 next to the family phone.
