Protecting your baby from common household injuries
Mar 23, 2017 09:33AM ● By News Desk
Every year, more than 2,200 children die from injuries that occur at home, according to estimates from Safe Kids Worldwide. While every parent knows that accidents can and do happen, there are many areas of the home where some preventive steps can help reduce the risk.
Listed here are just a few of the many common household safety measures you can implement.
Kitchen
- Although it may be tempting to hold your little bundle of joy while working in the kitchen, a safer alternative is a high chair where they can see all the action but be safely out of harm’s way.
- While cooking, keep pan handles turned inward, out of reach of little hands, and before opening the oven door, ensure little ones are a safe distance away, putting your own body between the child and the oven so you can prevent any sudden lunges.
- Use the rear burners when possible and keep dishes filled with hot food out of reach on counters or table tops.
Bathroom
- Always check the water temperature before placing a child in the bathtub.
- Use a minimal amount of water in the tub, as drowning can occur in as little as a few inches.
- Reduce access to other water sources by closing toilet lids and keeping bathroom and laundry room doors closed.
- Immediately unplug and store items such as hair dryers, curling irons and straight irons, which can retain heat long after being turned off and pose an added strangulation danger with dangling cords.
- Keep all medications out of reach and always use the intended dosing devices. Common kitchen spoons vary greatly, so using these to measure a medication may be imprecise and result in over or under medicating.
Living Areas
- Eliminate dangling cords from window treatments, either by hooking cords out of reach or using an alternative window covering.
- When possible, place heavy items on low, sturdy furniture and use safety brackets, braces and wall straps to attach furniture and large items like TVs to the wall to prevent tipping.
Stairs
- Use safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases to prevent falls.
Pantry/Garage
- Products containing harmful chemicals, such as cleaners, should be stored out of reach, but also out of sight to avoid temptation.
- Keep products in their original containers, which include instructions for proper use and guidance on what to do if ingested, rubbed in eyes, etc. This also helps ensure items are not mistaken for something else and used dangerously.
Final and Most Important Safety Tip
- If you’re responsible for watching the children, stay focused on the kids. Log off of facebook, put your smart phone down and enjoy watching them play and grow.
Safe parenting isn’t easy—in fact—nothing about parenting is easy. But your kids are counting on you to protect them!
