As a parent, your child's safety is important. You may think about childhood safety in terms of keeping your child off the stairs, away from swimming pools and cutting up her food to prevent choking. Expand your areas of concern to the numerous appliances in your home. Almost every electrical appliance, from lamps to electric knives, could be harmful to your child. Keep your child safe at home by analyzing the safety of appliances in your home.
Significance
According to Safe Kids, more than 2,000 children younger than 14 die from an injury at home every year. The major causes of death are from fires, suffocation, drownings and choking. Improper maintenance and operation of electrical and gas appliances can cause fires. Other appliances in your home, such as corded lamps, kitchen stoves, dishwashers, blow dryers and even television set,s have the potential to cause harm to your child.
Types of Injury
Burns, crush injuries, cuts, electrocutions and strangulation are all possible injuries from appliances. If your child touches a hot stovetop, she could burn her hand. An article in the Washington Post detailed the problem of stove-tipping. Stoves can tip over and kill or servery injure a child, if a child stands on the open oven door. Television sets placed on unstable furniture can fall on a climbing child. Electrocution is possible if your child touches a plugged-in appliance with wet hands. Your child may play with the electric knife you use to carve meats and cut her fingers.
Safety Features
Take advantage of the many safety products available to keep your child safe around appliances. Install stove brackets and secure electronic equipment. Put cabinet latches on your kitchen cabinets where you store your mixer, blender and coffee grinder. Unplug appliances when not in use, and use outlet covers to prevent your child from plugging in an appliance. Wrap extra-long cords in an approved tie to avoiding strangulation from cord entanglement. Put knob guards on your cooktop or oven to prevent your child from turning on the stove. If not equipped, use the locking feature on full-size freezers to keep your child from playing hide-and-seek in the freezer.
Time Frame
When your child is young, do not let her play in the kitchen unless you are present. As your child grows, prepare her to properly use appliances, recommends the National AG Safety Database. The publication recommends using the P.A.U.S.E. technique, meaning to pause and ask yourself if your child is capable of safely operating an appliance. Sit down with your older child and explain what appliances she is permitted to use. She may be old enough to operate the microwave, but not the stove. You may not allow her to iron without your supervision, but she is allowed to use the blender. Analyze your child's height, maturity level and understanding when determining which appliances she can use.
Considerations
Discuss appliance safety with your child in an age-appropriate manner. It is important not to unnecessarily frighten your child, but instead help him understand possible dangers. KidsHealth website recommends discussing what to do in case an appliance catches on fire and show your child your home's escape routes. Set a good example for your child by always using appliances properly. Check that all your kitchen and bathroom outlets are properly grounded to help prevent electrocution.
References
- Safe Kids: Home Safety Fact Sheet
- The Washington Post: Stove-Tipping Raises Concerns
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Childproofing Your Home: 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children
- National AG Safety Database: Parents Appliance Use & Safety Exchange With Children - P.A.U.S.E. With Children
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Fire Safety
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