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Checklist of potential safety hazards in the home
Kitchen
Remove all hazardous products from lower cabinets. This includes liquor. Secure a safety latch to keep children away from all other unauthorized objects under the sink cabinet. We recommend installation of safety latches on all cabinets and drawers within the kitchen.
Cords should not dangle from the countertop that would allow a child to pull an appliance down onto him.
Always cook with pot and pan handles facing away from the front of the stove, a better option is to cook using the back burners.
Store knives and knife blocks far out of reach or in locked drawers
Refrigerator/Freezer - Be aware of items that could fall out of the refrigerator/freezer and onto a child when opened.
Fire/Electrical Safety
Test your fire/carbon monoxide alarm monthly and change the battery once a year
Never overload circuits or extension cords
Use safety outlet covers on all outlets
Keep fire in the fireplace. Use fire screens and have your chimney cleaned annually. The creosote buildup can ignite a chimney fire that could easily spread
Pad all stone or marble hearths
Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.
When operating fire extinguishers, remember P.A.S.S. P ull the pin from the extinguisher handle. A im at the BASE of the fire. S queeze the trigger. S weep back and forth. Never turn your back on a fire. When you retreat, walk slowly backwards if possible
Water Safety
Children under age one most often drown in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets. Among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools. Most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time
When children are swimming, designate at least one adult to watch the children exclusively.
When bathing a child, never leave him alone unsupervised, even for a moment, for any reason
We recommend installation of pool fencing by a reputable company
Bathroom Safety
Always store hair dryers and curling irons unplugged and away from water
Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees to prevent scalding
When bathing a child, never leave him alone unsupervised, even for a moment, for any reason
Keep all medications locked away from children
We recommend installing cabinet latches in the bathroom to restrict access to their contents
Windows/Falls
Wrap all window blind cords.
Keep all windows locked.
Move all furniture including beds away from windows.
Open windows from the top, not the bottom, if you can.
Screens do not protect children from falling out of windows, they let the air in and keep bugs out.
We recommend window guards.
Furniture Safety
Heavy furniture is often an overlooked hazard. Children can climb furniture, causing bookcases and the like to fall onto them. We recommend furniture straps.
Be aware of furniture placement in front of balconies, staircases and windows. Children can use chairs and tables to climb up and over these areas. We recommend plexiglass barriers on any staircase banisters/balconies that are more than 4 wide, or those that have ornate scrolls that could be used as a ladder' to climb up and over
Sharp edged furniture should be padded
Heavy kitchen table tops can present a tipping hazard to children when not affixed to the base. Children often lean on tables. This can cause the table top to fall upon them. There is no easy solution for this hazard other than storing such tables and using a safer alternative until the child becomes of such age that you are comfortable with bringing it back inside your household.
Entertainment Equipment and Home Offices
Sharp edged furniture should be padded
Use TV/ VCR / DVD shields to prevent curious fingers from playing with buttons and keep foreign objects out and away from them
Home offices have many small items that could be harmful. Paperclips, erasers, tacks, staplers, paper shredders and the like. Drawer latches are advised. Computer centers and other areas have many electrical cords. We recommend power strip safety covers and cord covers for these areas. If possible, place a slide lock on the door to your home office to restrict access.
- Visit www.cpsc.gov for more information about paper shredder/home office equipment safety
Pets
Keep pet food away from children. It contains small pieces and is dangerous to children
We custom install pet gates, both indoor and out
Other considerations
Keep all emergency phone numbers by the phone. Let caretakers know where these are located.
Read and become familiar about poisonous household and garden plants
Always be aware of any small objects that could pose a choking hazard, older siblings toys may contain many small parts.
Door stops with removable rubber tips pose a choking hazard. We recommend one piece stops
Dry cleaning bags hang low and pose a serious suffocation hazard, remove and dispose of them before you enter the house. Plastic grocery bags should be kept out of reach
Exercise equipment including weights and treadmills are extremely dangerous. These areas should not be accessible to your child. We recommend door latches to prevent access to these areas
- Visit nhtsa.gov for important child safety seat information
Any babyproofing measures you take need to be re-evaluated as your child grows. This list is meant as a guide, and cannot possibly cover all situations in all households. Remember, there is no substitute for adult supervision!
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