Unintentional injuries are among the top killers of children in the United States. Experts suggest childproofing your home is an excellent remedy and needs to be expanded beyond a child’s ‘toddler years’ to ensure their safety around the house. Prevention can eliminate the occurrences of these injuries.
If you have children, taking the proper safety measures or childproofing steps is a great way to improve their safety. Below are the different ways you can ‘childproof’ the different potentially dangerous areas in your home.
Furnace and Ventilation Systems
Although most modern furnaces boast safety features that protect your home when it malfunctions, those features don’t keep your children from exploring them on their own. Below are the different ways you can ‘childproof’ your furnaces.
-
Pay Close Attention to Vents
Accessible ventilation, especially those situated on your home floors, is the top cause of incidents inside a home regarding furnaces. These ventilation systems can cause burns or trap a limb or two. It’s best to invest in childproof furnace safety covers from your local plumbing and heating service provider. These covers make sure that hot air doesn’t blow over any unsuspecting children passing by.
-
Pipe and Duct Insulation
If you have exposed pipes or duct work around your home that carry heated water or air, it should be insulated. You can do this by applying foam insulation to these materials, keeping limbs and fingers from getting burned.
Kitchen
The kitchen can be a dangerous place for your curious little ones. That’s why it’s a great idea to invest in childproofing your kitchen. One way is by shielding sharp edges of kitchen countertops or islands with soft corner protectors since it’s all too easy for children to bang their heads against these areas. It’s also best to use childproof cabinet locks to keep cabinets and drawers in the kitchen inaccessible from kids.
Stairs
The stairs can be dangerous for your children, especially if they have just started to learn how to walk. One way you can protect your kids from the dangers of falling from the stairs is by installing safety gates at the top and bottom of it. It’s best to use hardware-mounted childproof gates instead of expanding ones since it can quickly come off.
Pool Area
Never make your home’s pool area easily accessible to your children since leaving them unattended in deep waters can lead to dangerous or even fatal situations. That’s why it’s best to keep the whole pool area 100% childproof. You can childproof this area by using doorknob covers to keep kids away from your home swimming pool, install four-sided fences at least 4 to 5 feet fall, and place a self-closing self-latching gate around the pool area.
Garage Area
All garages pose inherent risks to kids, like vehicles, concrete floors, and harmful supplies. You can childproof these areas by storing chemicals or other toxic substances out of their reach by placing them as high as possible or locking them in a cabinet. Another way to childproof a garage is by getting rid of clutter since most individuals use these areas to store tools and supplies.
Keep your child safe by taking the time to implement these childproof practices inside your home, allowing them to enjoy their time playing around the house without you constantly worrying about them getting hurt.
