Home Safety Tips for Families

Home Safety Tips for Families 

Home safety is an essential priority for all families and especially if you have infants or young children. Having the right safeguards in place can protect your family from potential dangers and injuries. Below are home safety tips and rules to follow.

Carbon Monoxide:

It's essential to have smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors throughout your home, including every floor. Make sure to check on these on a monthly basis to see if they're still working. Networked smoke detectors are best because if one of them goes off, all of the others will, alerting everyone in the house regardless of which room they're in. Keep in mind that carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is a by-product of common appliances and heaters. It doesn't have any color or odor, but it is extremely dangerous to breathe in as it disrupts the ability of a person's blood to transport oxygen. Kids are at higher risk for carbon monoxide poisoning because they breathe faster and inhale more carbon monoxide per pound of body weight. 

A proper carbon monoxide detector installed can alert you if there is a leak. If the alarm goes off, it's important to vacate your family from the house immediately and call 911. If your alarm detector is battery-operated, replace the batteries every 6 months. Always remember to have fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or space heaters checked by a professional once a year. 

Lead Exposure: 

Lead exposure is also harmful, especially for young children who often put their hands and objects into their mouths. To keep your place lead safe, test your home, especially if it was built before 1978. If there are any home repairs needed, make sure they're done safely and the areas for repairs are sealed off. Peeling or chipped paint on the walls can increase the risk of exposure. Cover these areas with duct tape or paper until they can be removed. Regularly clean your house and remind your children to wash their hands before eating.  

Electrical Outlets:

Electrical outlets can cause electric shock. Let your kids know to be careful around these. For very young children who may try to put their finger into the outlet, put non-choking hazard safety plugs in all unused outlets or block the outlets with furniture. Electrical cords should also be kept out of reach for small children. 

Hazardous Items:

Certain items in the house can be hazardous to young children. Button and lithium coin batteries, for example, can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries if accidentally swallowed. Always keep these away from young kids and make sure they're secured somewhere safe and where your child will not be able to access them. Old batteries that are no longer being used should be recycled or safely disposed of right away. Plastic bags can also be dangerous for children and cause accidental suffocation. Never leave these lying around the house or put items and toys your kids use in them. In addition, magnets can be a serious problem if ingested, so avoid magnetized toys.

Medications, Alcohol, and Cleaning Products:

Keep your medicines, alcoholic beverages, and any other type of drug locked up in a cabinet where your children will not have access to them. Safety caps on medicines are not enough to protect children from being able to get into the bottle. Medicines should always be stored away from kids. You may want to get a storage box that has a lock, so only you can access it.

Lastly, if you have a baby or toddler that can crawl and walk, it's important to install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. This can prevent your child from falling or injuring themselves. 

For any questions or concerns about home safety and protecting your children, call our office.