Jan 25

Home Safety Tips

Guest Authors Childproof, electrocution, home safety, Kids, Kitchens, slips and trips, tips

The home is full of accident potential, but there are many measures and gadgets to help minimize the risks. Below is a short list of some home safety tips that you should consider :

Eliminate access to toxic substances. Prime causes of toxic accidents are household cleaning and DIY products, medicines and poisonous garden plants.
Childproof locks or fasteners for cupboards and drawers serve a dual purpose. Kids sometimes manage to get to high cupboards containing medicines or other potentially dangerous items, including sharp objects. Injuries can also be caused when kids pull out heavy items that fall onto them. Childproof door and drawer fasteners cover most bases. Note: kids can get past childproof caps on bottles, so don’t count on them. Lock them away as well.
Childproof Gates. It’s very important that all stairwells in your home have a child proof gate blocking both the top and the bottom of the stairs. We sometimes forget how dangerous it can be to not block the bottom of the stairs.
Small slips and trips can lead to nasty injuries. Rugs and runners can be given a slip-proof backing. Corner guards for sharp edges, furniture and units are a useful protective measure for smaller children. Use cable organizers to get wires and leads out of the way.
Kitchens are danger zones. Devices are available to stop kids being able to open fridge, dishwasher and oven doors. Childproof oven knob covers prevent fiddling. Oven doors can be covered with a transparent material that reduces heat by half.
Electricity is a major home hazard. Socket covers stop kids from self-electrocution. Unplug electrical items after use and store out of reach. Heaters are a well-known danger. Get rid of bar heaters in favour of safer types and if you have open fires consider a childproof fireguard.
Kids can drown in just a few inches of water. Make sure small kids don’t have unsupervised access to ponds, water features, water butts and the like (also secure manhole covers). Limit unsupervised bathroom access. Childproof hot tap covers and even toilet lid locks can be useful for smaller children.