Most parents of young children have done their due diligence child-proofing the home. However, it’s sometimes tough to spot certain safety situations in advance.
“As a busy, working parent, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to find the time to tackle any home project,” says Safe Kids president Torine Creppy. “But safety starts at home, and if parents can combine child-proofing with holiday planning, they’ll create a home that’s festive, and, more importantly, one that’s safe for kids.”
Here are six spots you may have missed when child-proofing your home:
Burns and Scalds. Each day, nearly 300 children ages 0 – 19 are seen in emergency rooms from burn or scald injuries, many of which come from the kitchen. Keep hot foods and liquids away from the edges of tables and counters.
Button Batteries. Each year, more than 3,300 button battery swallowing cases are reported to U.S. poison control centers. Keep items that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries, like key fobs and small remote controls, out of children’s reach and sight.
Liquid Laundry Packets. In 2018, there were 9,444 calls to poison centers related to laundry packet incidents involving young children. Keep liquid laundry packets in their original containers, up, closed and out of children’s reach and sight.
Poisons. Every minute a poison control center receives a call about a child getting into a poison. Keep all household cleaning products, personal care products and medicines in their original containers, out of children’s reach and sight. Save the Poison Help number in your phone and post it visibly at home: 1-800-222-1222.
Televisions. Every day, 15 children go to the ER because of a TV tip-over. Use brackets, braces, mounts or wall straps to secure unstable TVs or top-heavy furniture to prevent tip-overs.
Toys. In 2018, an estimated 165,000 children under the age of 15 were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries—452 kids every day. When choosing a toy or game, carefully read age recommendations and warning labels. For little kids, check for small parts and other choking hazards.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide
