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Install
child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets. |
Keep
dangerous chemicals out of children's reach. |
For
strings and ribbons, follow the six-inch rule. |
Always
use a safety belt on your baby when she is sitting in a bouncy
seat or a swing. |
Shorten
curtain and blind cords. |
Place
furniture well away from windows. |
Use
corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges. |
Place
houseplants out of children's reach. |
Know
the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them. |
Keep
cigarettes, matches, and lighters out of children's reach. |
Safeguard
heating and gas systems against accidents. |
Be
sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters,
and gas appliances are vented properly. |
Place
screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable
space heaters. |
Install
carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms outside bedrooms to help prevent
CO poisoning. |
Install
smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your
home. |
Remove
the plastic end caps on doorstops or replace the stops with
a one-piece design to prevent choking. |
Consider
placing plastic guards along the hinge side of frequently used
interior doors to prevent the doors from pinching fingers. |
Safety-proof
windows and fire exits. |
Make
a fire evacuation plan and practice fire escape routes at least
twice a year. |
Keep
firearms and ammunition safely locked away. |
Secure
unsteady furnishings. |
Avoid
household water hazards. |
Test
homes built before 1978 for lead paint. |
Learn
first aid and CPR. |
Avoid
dark hallways and rugs that slip. |
Safety-proof
stairs. |
If
possible, install carpeting on stairways to protect from falls. |
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Infant Safety |
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Position
your child's crib away from all drapery, electrical cords, and
windows. |
Make
sure the crib meets national safety standards. |
Make
sure the mattress fits snugly. |
Be
sure the crib sheet fits snugly. |
If
you use a crib bumper, make sure it's firm (not fluffy) and
secured tightly with at least six ties. |
Remove
mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your
child can reach up and touch them. |
Place
infants under one year on their backs to sleep. |
Never
use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child
or infant. |
Place
night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding,
and draperies to prevent fires. |
Always
use a safety belt on your infant when you have her on a changing
table, and never leave her unattended. |
Provide
padding for falls. |
Check
age labels for appropriate toys. |
Be
vigilant about choking hazards. |
Use
side railings for children just getting used to "big kid" beds. |
If
bedrooms are on second or third stories, be sure to have a fire-escape
ladder in each room. |
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Bathroom Safety |
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Put
a lock on the medicine cabinet. |
To
prevent poisoning, lock away all vitamins and medicines. |
Install
toilet-lid locks to prevent drowning. |
Lower
the household water temperature. |
Always
test the water first before bathing a child. |
Make
sure bathtubs and showers aren't slippery. |
Use
electrical appliances carefully. |
Install
ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sinks and
bathtubs. |
Never
leave a young child alone in the bathroom. |
Keep
knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's
reach. |
To
avoid fires and burns, never leave cooking food unattended. |
If
stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective
covers to prevent kids from turning them. |
Teach
your kids how to respond to fire. |
When
they're not in use, unplug electrical appliances. |
Replace
any frayed cords and wires. |
Keep
chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove. |
Keep
activated charcoal (helps absorb some poisons) and syrup of
ipecac (used to induce vomiting) on hand. |
Beware
of foods that children can choke on. |
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Safety in the Garden and Yard |
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Store
tools, garden, and lawn-care equipment and supplies in a locked
closet or shed. |
Don't
use a power mower to cut the lawn when young children are around. |
Don't
allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours
following an application of a fertilizer or a pesticide. |
Know
the types of trees on the property in the event children ingest
berries, leaves, or other plant life. |
If
you have a swimming pool, install a fence (with an automatic
childproof gate) that separates the house from the pool. |
When
you barbecue outdoors, never leave kids unattended around the
grill. |
Store
propane grills where children cannot reach the knobs. |
To
find outlet covers, cord shorteners, cabinet latches, and toilet-lid
locks, check with your local hardware store. |
For
consumer-product and home-safety information, contact the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission. |
For
details about child and home safety, contact the National Safe
Kids Campaign. |
For
information about child lead poisoning, read the "Lead Hazard
Information" pamphlet from the department of Housing and Urban
Development. |
For
information about safe drinking water, contact the Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Water.
More Safety Links
Pastiche
Family Safety Pages
SafeKids.org Links to Safety Organizations
Kidd
Safety - The Kids Pages at CPSC
Door and Gate Alarms
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