General Safety tips in children

Child Safety Seats:

• Choose the correct child safety seat for your child's age and weight.
• Register your child safety seat by filling out the manufacturer's registration card and mailing it in. This is the only way to be notified if there is a recall or problem.
• Install your child safety seat correctly. Follow the manufacturer's instructions EXACTLY or better yet, have your child safety seat installed by a National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA) certified installer. A seat that is not installed correctly will not offer your child the best protection in the event of a crash.
• Always buckle your child into a child safety seat EVERYTIME your child rides in the car-no exceptions. The harness should be snug and the chest clip should be at the level of the child's armpits.
• Infants should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are AT LEAST 20 pounds and one year-longer if possible.
• If your child safety seat is in use and a crash occurs, retire it gratefully and purchase a new one. Damage to the seat may not be visible and can render the seat unsafe.
• NTSHA estimates that proper use of car seats could prevent up to 71% of deaths and 67% of injuries sustained in accidents.

Toys:

• Everyone who buys toys should remember that playthings are safe only when they are chosen according to a child's age, interest and skill level.
• Discard the plastic wrappings from the toys immediately before they become deadly playthings.
• Teach older children to keep toys designed for them away from younger children.
• Keep toys and play equipment in good repair. Discard toys that can't be made safe.
• Teach children to put toys away. Leaving playthings on sidewalks and stairs can cause falls.
• Decorating With Plants:
• Plants can be toxic. Know the names, both common and scientific, of all plants in your home and garden. In some cases, ingestion of poisonous plants may include symptoms such as nausea, burns in the mouth and on the hands, a burning throat, convulsions, gastric upset, dizziness, unconsciousness, cold, clammy sweats, difficulty in breathing and other symptoms.

Fire Safety:

• Install smoke/fire detectors in each room, at a minimum, on each floor. These detectors should be tested on a monthly basis. Batteries should be changed twice per year with new batteries.
• Have a fire extinguisher on each floor of your home, and know how to use it.
• Devise at least two fire escape plans and practice them.
• Place all lighters and matches in a locked drawer or metal box. Don't play games with fire. Teach your children the dangers of lighters and matches and to notify you anytime they find a lighter or matches.

Laundry room and garage

• Keep all cleaning products and hazardous materials up high or securely latched in a cabinet.
• The garage should be off limits, at all times, to toddlers.
• Water heaters should be anchored to the wall to avoid a burn hazard. Never store flammable liquids or materials near the water heater since the pilot light could accidentally ignite the fumes.
• Use only garage door openers with automatic stopping devices. These doors will automatically reopen if they sense an obstruction.

Pool Safety

• Drowning has become the # 1 cause of death among children under the age of 14, and near drowning can result in brain damage to a child.
• Install a fence around the pool. The fence should completely surround the pool, be at least four feet tall, and have self-latching, self-closing gates.
• Never leave a child unobserved in a pool. Adult supervision is essential and a caregiver's eyes must be on the child at all times.
• If a child is missing, always look in the pool or hot tub first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• If you choose to enroll a child under age 4 in a water safety course or learn-to-swim program, know that this is primarily a way for you and your child to have fun together in the water. The American Academy of Pediatrics does NOT recommend swimming lessons for kids under age 4 because they are developmentally not ready yet. It will not make your child "drown-proof", but will teach important behaviors about water safety such as not pushing, running, diving in shallow water, or swimming alone.
• If you're using a chain link fence, ensure the openings are 1 x 1-inch so children cannot use the openings to climb up and get access to the pool.
• Consider using a gated alarm and/or closed circuit camera to monitor entry into the pool area.

 Master and Other Bedrooms

• The master bedroom and all siblings' bedrooms should have the same safety features as the rest of the house.
• Check the floor for dangerous items.
• Empty nightstands of medication, sewing materials, cosmetics, jewelry, buttons, manicure tools, and other typically dangerous items.
• NEVER KEEP FIREARMS IN A HOME WITH SMALL CHILDREN. IF YOU MUST, KEEP THE FIREARM EITHER DISMANTLED, ALWAYS UNLOADED, SECURED WITH A TRIGGER LOCK, OR KEEP IT LOCKED IN A GUN SAFE.

Family Room

• If any piece of furniture seems unstable, it should be anchored to the wall. Not only can a toddler climb on large pieces, but an earthquake can send unstable furniture crashing down.
• Coffee tables should have rounded corners to avoid split temples and lips. If glass tabletops are used, the glass should be 3/4" thick and should be made of tempered glass or replace the glass with Plexiglass. Never use pedestal type tables. A child who climbs on the edge of an unsecured table could suffer a serious injury.
• Install padded toddler shields on your tables to protect your children when they fall.
• Use a VCR lock to prevent children from placing little fingers or unwanted items in the VCR.
• If you have a bar in the family room, lock away all alcohol.
• Remove small objects from lower shelves. These may pose a choking hazard.
• Fireplace Hearths should be padded or completely blocked off with a gate to protect your child from the hazards of falling, as well as the danger of the fire itself. Remove gas fireplace keys and put them out of reach of toddlers.
• Stow logs, matches, and fireplace tools out of reach.

Stairways and Banisters

• Staircases have provided both adults and children with bumps, bruises, broken bones and other injuries. Keep stairs clear of clutter that may pose a tripping hazard while carrying your baby.
• Safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs should be securely mounted to the wall and have a locking handle that can be operated with one hand. Never use a pressure gate on stairs.
• Banister posts should be no more than four inches apart. Larger openings permit children to slip through or become lodged. Baby Home Safety recommends and installs Plexiglass panels on stair balconies, both interior and exterior.
• Do not place furniture near a balcony. A child could climb on the furniture and fall over the balcony.

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