Did you know
that more American children die in home accidents each year than from all
childhooh diseases combined? Use this safety checklist to help make
your home safe for the smallest and most vulnerable members of your
family.
Medicines, toxic bleaches, oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents,
polishes, and waxes should all
be locked away in a secure place, out of your child's sight and reach.
Don't keep them under a sink or in plain view in your garage or
carport.
-Make sure electrical outlets are covered with safety caps
-Disconnect electrical rollers and hair dryers when they are not in
use
(Children have
been electrocuted when hair dryers that were left plugged in fell into
bathroom sinks or tubs.)
-Make sure furniture is placed away from high windows so that children
won't climb onto a window seat or sill. Don't depend on window screens to
keep your child from falling out. Screens are designed to keep bugs out,
not to keep children in.
-Make sure your nursery furnishings, whether new or used, are stable
and sturdily constructed. Check for exposed screws, bolts, or fasteners
with sharp edges or points. Avoid scissorlike mechanisms which could
crush fingers, and cutout designs that might entrap a child's head.
-Make sure you keep the tops of stairways blocked so your baby or
toddler can't fall.
-Never leave a small child unattended around outdoor deck
stairs, concrete steps, or a swimming pool.
-Curtains or venetian blind cords should not hang within your
baby's reach. Don't hang objects with strings or elastics (toys or
laundry bags, for example) around cribs or playpens where your child might
become entangled and choke to death.
-Toys with long strings and cords may be dangerous to infants and very
young children. Cords can become wrapped around an infant's neck, causing
strangulation.
-Toys for babies, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teething toys,
should be too large to go down an infant's throat far enough to become
lodged there.
You should not leave a side down on your mesh playpen or portable
crib. This can pose a serious hazard to newborns and infants, because the mesh
forms a loose pocket into which an infant can roll and suffocate.
ATTENTION PARENTS:
Children should feel safe and know how to stay safe. They must be taught safety procedures, beginning at an early age and continuing throughout their childhood. Begin by teaching your children such things as their telephone number, their full name, your full name, and how to dial 9-1-1 in an emergency. Learning personal safety skills will help children develop self-confidence. Children with self-esteem are less vulnerable and less likely to fall victim to those who prey on children. It is imperative that you start teaching your children basic personal safety skills at an early age.
Return to the top of the page
Return to the top of the page