Bermuda Parent Bermuda Parent Spring 2018 | Page 10

little ones
Childproof
YOUR
HOME
A
s a parent, from the
moment your child
is born you begin to
worry about his or her safety.
Keeping a child safe from harm
is not always easy. The average
household is full of potential
hazards that pose a threat
to a young child. However,
all it takes is a few simple
alterations to make your home
safe. By taking these measures,
you can significantly reduce
the amount of accidents your
children experience in their
early years. Step 2: Banish Hazards
from the Bathroom
Step 1: Think Like a Child When cooking, turn pot handles to
the back of the stove. Install “child-
resistant” locks on all cabinets within
the child’s reach. Install dial covers on
burner controls and special locks on the
oven and refrigerator for added protec-
tion. Additionally, remove all cleaning
fluids and agents from lower drawers
and storage areas.
Childproofing means locking, securing,
relocating or removing anything that
may pose a potential danger to a child.
To understand these dangers, get down
to a child’s level to see the room from
his or her perspective. Take a good look
at items on the floor, at eye level, and at
higher items that may pose a threat or
entice a child to explore. Make a list of
your childproofing priorities.
8
Many substances found in the bath-
room are potentially unsafe. Even
substances that are considered “safe”
for adults, such as vitamins or aspirin,
can be toxic and/or lethal to children.
Keep all medications, topical oint-
ments and creams, sharp beauty tools
and cleaning products locked in the
medicine cabinet or in a lockbox with a
key. Place bath safe tread on the bottom
of the bathtub to prevent falling. Turn
down your water heater to 120 degrees
F or below to prevent scalding young
skin. Purchase toilet locks and keep the
lid closed when not in use.
Step 3: Create a Kid-Proof Kitchen
Step 4: Practice Fire Safety
Install smoke detectors on all levels of
your home, including the basement
and garage. Check and change the
batteries regularly. When deciding
where children should sleep, make sure
one window is easily accessible. Use
fire safety stickers from your local fire
department to identify windows where a
child may be sleeping.
Step 5: Make Windows Safer
A keyed sash lock allows you to control
when windows are raised. This security
measure will not only prevent your
child from opening a window, but also
protects your family against intru-
sions. Install the lock according to the
manufacturer’s instructions using a
drill, grommet and a screwdriver. Test
the window lock. The window should be
secure and lock easily in either posi-
tion. Install blind cord wind-ups to keep
window cords out of reach.
Helpful Tip
If your home was built before 1978,
test the exterior with a lead testing kit
to determine whether it contains any
lead- based paint. Lead poses a serious
health hazard, especially to children and
pregnant women. To protect yourself and
your family, avoid scraping or sanding
lead-based paint.