New parents face a multitude of preparations around the house, ranging from installing baby gates to securing outlets. While some safety precautions are well-known, others may not be as familiar. To assist, here are some recommendations for safeguarding the young children in your home.
Commencing in the kitchen, often deemed the most hazardous room by parents, it is crucial to establish safety measures. This area, along with bathrooms, is commonly considered a “danger zone” due to the elevated risk of injuries. Both kids and adults face potential burns, cuts, and crush injuries. To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to either restrict children’s access to the kitchen with baby gates or supervise them closely.
Considering children’s knack for exploring forbidden areas, effective child-proofing methods are essential. This includes safety locks on oven doors, stove knobs, refrigerators, garbage cans, and cabinets. Parents should also have a fire extinguisher readily available, secure all cleaning products and chemicals, store sharp objects out of reach, and anchor countertop appliances to prevent accidental tipping.
In the bathroom, another potential danger zone, several precautions can be taken to avert accidents. Similar to the kitchen, installing locks on the medicine cabinet, toilet lid, and doorknobs is recommended to prevent unsupervised access. Given that falls are the primary cause of nonfatal injuries for children, nonskid strips should be utilized on bathroom floors and inside the bathtub.
Additionally, there are often overlooked bathroom safety measures, such as the installation of antiscald devices. These devices monitor water temperature, preventing young ones from turning the faucet too hot and causing burns. While these measures may seem minor, nearly 40% of parents whose children suffered in-home injuries believed that the right childproofing precautions could have prevented the incident.
Finally, securing the entire house with a home security system adds an extra layer of protection. Advances in technology have made home security more accessible and affordable than ever. Installing smart home devices, including smart baby monitors, indoor cameras, and motion sensors, has been shown to reduce child injuries. With a simple tap on an app, parents can receive crucial notifications and view live video feeds to keep their little ones safe.
While it’s impossible to shield children from every potential harm, parents can take numerous precautions to make their homes as safe as possible. For further examples of home safety measures, explore the accompanying resource.
Infographic provided by Alarm Detection Systems, a leading provider of business security cameras
