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Main Page Site Index Getting Pregnant Pregnancy Parenting Pregnancy and Parenting Journals Fertility Nutrition Pregnant Moms Morning Sickness Women's Health Child Health	Child Safety in The Home by J.K. Beith We all like to think that we are good parents and take great care in protecting our children from any harm or dangers – yet there is one place where your child is more at risk than anywhere else, and that is in their own home. No matter how careful we all are there will be a time when your child is unsupervised. It only takes a split-second, for a child to swallow something and choke. However there are some precautions we can take to try and eliminate these dangers . But first some facts: Children in the 0 – 4 yr age group are the most likely to have an accident at home. Boys are more likely to have accidents than girls The largest number of accidents happens in the living/dining room areas. The most serious type of accidents happen in the kitchen – or on the stairs The most common accidents are heat related – or falls. More accidents occur at weekends, in the summer, during school holidays and late afternoon early evening. Following some simple safety rules will greatly reduce the chance of accidents. Look for any electric flexes or cords dangling. Any you find should be taped securely to the wall floor, or furniture to stop them being pulled by the child. This eliminates any possibility of objects like lamps, stereos, TVs etc, being pulled on top of them. Items like an iron should never be left unattended – when you have finished put it away immediately. Disconnect any appliances when not in use. Ensure any rugs or mats are secured to the floor or carpets to avoid slipping. Don’t leave any hot or heavy objects on a low table, as these can be easily dragged over the edge on top of themselves, by a small child. Remove table cloths – A large number of accidents occur because children pull at the cloths and items topple on top of them. Make all cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom inaccessible to young children. Fit childproof locks and hinges to deter the curious child. Don’t leave perfumes or cosmetics lying around - these can be extremely hazardous if swallowed by young children. Never leave aerosols lying about as they can cause eye damage if the nozzle is activated. Keep all medicines, scissors, and razors out of reach of your child. Make sure you can open your bathroom and lavatory door from the outside. Keep the lavatory lid closed. When running your child’s bath always runs the cold water first, so there is no risk of being scalded. Make sure you test the water before you put your child in. Keep matches and lighters in a safe place out of reach of children. Always turn handles of pans on the stove to the inside, so children cannot reach up and tip scalding liquid on top of themselves. Never leave anything on the stairs – they should be uncluttered at all times. Fit a stair gate wherever possible. Keep plastic bags out of reach of children. Never leave a young baby on a surface where they can roll or fall off. Try and buy flame resistant clothing for your child. Finally look out for objects that your small child could choke on. Some of the most unlikely objects can be picked up by a toddler and swallowed. After injections it is not unusual for a band-aid or plaster to be put on to cover the needle mark. If this happens make sure you cover this with a long sleeved garment, as there have been quite a few cases where a toddler has picked it off and choked on the item while trying to eat it. This is by no means a definitive list of items or hazards you can find in the home. It is merely a look at some of the things you can easily do to make your home safer for your children. John tries to combine his role as a SAHD with work as a freelance writer. Home is a small village in West Yorkshire England, where he lives happily with his wife and two young daughters. (Georgia who is nearly 3yrs and Olivia aged 16 months.) His articles have appeared in online publications in countries ranging from India to the USA. He is a member of The Association of Freelance Writers. If you have any comments on this article or would like further information please feel free to contact him at jaybee@writeme.co.uk.