Child-safety devices on the market today can prevent many fatal and injuries and accidents. These devices include baby gates, stair-step treads, outlet covers, and window guards. Thousands of children are hurt, injured, and killed every year. Make sure any safety product you buy is easy to operate and doesn’t harm your child. Carefully follow any installation instructions when installing the product.
- Use safety latches and locks for cabinets and drawers to prevent accidents, injuries, and toxic exposure. These functions help keep kids away from knives and other sharp instruments as well as household cleaners, and dangerous medications.
- Install anti-scald devices for taps and showers in the home. Additionally, setting the water heater temperature to 120° F prevents people from sustaining burns from hot water. A plumber should be called if necessary.
- Smoke detectors are key safety devices for preventing deaths and injuries from a fire. Having them in every room and near bedrooms is highly recommended, they are essential to alert people to fires so they can evacuate safely. Make sure smoke detectors are turned on and working every month.
- Gates should be placed near the bottom and top of stairs to prevent accidents and keep children from accessing dangerous areas. Look for gates that children can’t operate, but adults can open and close quickly. Screwing gates into wall studs is more secure than pressure gates.
- Window guards and safety netting can help keep your children safe around windows. They can be used to guard windows, decks, balconies, and landings. They should be well maintained and installed properly. Window guards should have a maximum size of 4 inches between the bars.
- Corner and edge bumpers help prevent injuries from falls against corners or edges of furniture and fireplaces.
Parents can research and purchase several safety equipment options for homes. These options must be age-appropriate and appropriate for the protection of their children.
