There are a lot of things new parents have to prepare for around the house. From setting up baby gates to covering the outlets, the list of safety measures goes on and on. Of course, some precautions aren’t as commonly known as others. To help, here are a few words of advice on protecting the young children in your home.
Let’s start in the kitchen, which is regarded as the most hazardous room in the house by parents. Along with the bathrooms, this area is often designated as a “danger zone” due to high rates of injury. Kids — and adults for that matter — could be burned, cut, and crushed by many items within these walls. Because of this, it’s recommended to keep children out of this room entirely with baby gates or to only allow access with supervision.
Of course, children have a way of going places they shouldn’t, so there ought to be child-proofing methods in place. These range from safety locks on the oven doors, stove knobs, refrigerator, garbage cans, and cabinets. Parents should also be sure to keep a fire extinguisher handy, lock away all cleaning products and chemicals, store sharp objects out of reach, and stow away or anchor countertop appliances to prevent them from being pulled down.
As for the other danger zone — the bathrooms — there are plenty of ways to prevent an accident from happening. Just as with the kitchen, locks should be installed on the medicine cabinet, toilet lid, and doorknobs to impede unsupervised entry. As falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries for children, parents are advised to use nonskid strips on bathroom floors and inside the bathtub.
In addition to these, there are frequently overlooked bathroom safety measures as well, such as installing antiscald devices. These safety tools gauge the water temperature and stop little ones from turning the faucet too hot and causing a burn. Measures like these may seem trivial, however, among parents whose child suffered an in-home injury, nearly 40% said the injury could have been prevented with the right childproofing precautions.
Lastly, there’s securing the whole house with a home security system. Innovative technology has made home security easier and more affordable than ever. What’s more, installing smart home devices, such as smart baby monitors, indoor cameras, and motion sensors, have been shown to reduce child injuries. With just the tap of an app, you can receive important notifications, view live video, and so much more to keep your little one out of harm’s way.
Although children can’t be sheltered from every harm, there are numerous ways for parents to prepare for anything and make the home as safe as possible. Want to learn more? Check out the accompanying resource for further examples of home safety measures you can implement to better protect your kids.
Guide created by Alarm Detection Systems, a leader provider of business security systems
