Household Safety

Are there any questions I can ask myself to decide if my home is safe?

Yes, think about your home in terms of the danger areas.  Remember, there is no substitute for direct and immediate supervision of your child.

What can I do to make my kitchen safe?

  • Do all harmful products in the cabinets have child resistant caps?  Certain products such as drain cleaners and oven cleaners should have safety packaging and removed from any location where children can find them or reach them.
  • Are all potentially harmful products in their original containers with original labels?
  • Are harmful products stored away from food?
  • Have all potentially harmful products been put up high and out of reach of a child?
  • Are sharp knives or other sharp objects secure from my child’s reach?
  • Do I have child safety latches installed in areas where my child has access to cabinets and drawers?
  • Are chairs and stepstools away from the stove or tabletops where my child could easily get hurt?
  • Are pot handles on the stove top pointing inward out of reach of my child where he night easily get scalded from boiling water?
  • Are electric cords kept out of reach of my child and hidden away?
  • Is there a fire extinguisher for grease fires installed in the kitchen area?

What can I do to make my bathroom safe?

  • Do medicines and other potential harmful products have child resistant closures?
  • Have you discarded all out-of-date prescriptions?
  • Is all medicine in their original containers with original labels?
  • Are all medicines stored out of reach of my child?
  • Are safety latched installed on cabinet doors?
  • Have I installed a non-skid bathmat on the floor and in the bathtub?
  • Is the hot water temperature lowered to 125 degrees to prevent potential scalding injuries?
  • Are curling irons, electric razor, razor blades, and hairdryers kept out of reach of my child, when in use and out of use?

What can I do to make my garage or storage area safe?

  • Did you know that many things in your garage or storage area that can be swallowed are terrible poisons?
  • Do all of these poisons have child resistant caps?
  • Are potential poisons stored in their original containers with original labels?
  • Are original labels on the container?
  • Have you made sure no poisons are stored in drinking glasses, pop bottles or other “drinkable” container?
  • Are potential poisons in locked cabinets or safely out of reach?

What can I do to make my stairwells safe?

  • Are stairs carpeted to prevent head injuries in case of falls?
  • Do stairwells have gates or door locks installed?

What can I do to make my windows safe?

  • Does your child have easy access to windows to crawl through and fall?
  • Are window locks installed on windows and screens?
  • Is there peeling or chipped paint on window sills that my child could easily ingest or swallow?

What can I do to make my other living areas safe?

  • Do all electrical outlets not in use have outlet covers installed?
  • Have all furniture with sharp edges been removed from the room or have corners protected with covers?
  • Are electrical cords well hidden out of view of children?
  • Have matches and lighter been placed out of reach of children?
  • Are small objects out of reach that your child may choke on, for example, candy, gum, toys plastic bag or coins?
  • Has access to fireplaces or space heaters been prevented by some type of barrier?
  • Are drapery cords out of reach of children to prevent accidental choking or strangulation?

What can I do to make my bedroom safe?

  • Are safety pins out of reach of my child?
  • Do I avoid baby powders that my child could easily inhale or swallow?
  • Does my changing table have safety straps and high side boards to prevent falls?  (Never leave your child alone on a changing table).
  • Have smoke alarms been installed in the bedroom hallways and checked at regular monthly intervals for battery charge?