While most people think of their homes as safe havens, a home can actually be full of dangerous hazards for children. Everyday things like stoves and medicine cabinets that people don’t normally give a second thought to can become deadly traps for kids.
Home injuries are the number one source of accidental death for children. Almost 21 million hospital visits and 20,000 deaths each year are the result of accidents in the home.
If you want to make sure your kids are safe, follow these four safety tips to address home safety hazards.
1. Keep Medicine Cabinets Locked Up
One of the most dangerous areas for children is the medicine cabinet. Simple things like vitamins and over-the-counter pain relievers can be deadly if kids accidentally overdose on them.
The best way to make sure kids stay out of the medicine cabinet is to keep it locked up at all times. A lock is only as effective as the people who use it.
Make sure everyone in the home agrees to lock up the cabinet after each use.
2. Protect Their Tender Fingers
One of the most overlooked dangers is the common door. A door that is slammed shut can do a tremendous amount of damage to a child’s developing fingers that get caught inside the door hinge.
One of the best ways to prevent these injuries is to install a finger guard to keep their little fingers out.
3. Garage Door Safety
As well as the doors inside the home, garage doors are another danger for kids at home. It’s a good idea to have a garage door with an automatic sensor so it will always go back up if a child happens to run under it.
Also, garage doors should never be operated by children. Avoid leaving your Best Doors garage opener lying around for your child to access.
4. Keep Kids Safe in the Kitchen
There are many hazards for kids in a kitchen, and they should never be allowed to use the kitchen on their own. Keeping a gate in the kitchen door will keep them from going in by themselves.
Keep all the knives well out of reach. It is a good idea to place a guard over the stove so that kids cannot burn themselves accidentally.
Stove knob covers should also be installed to keep them from turning the dials.
It’s not hard to keep your children safe at home if you follow the proper precautions. Following these four safety tips is a great start. It is also a good idea to regularly go through your home to identify and eliminate potential hazards as well.
