Accidents at home with kids
It is a major cause of child mortality. Learn some safety precautions to prevent and to avoid accidents at home with your children.
by Margarida Gamboa
Small Objects
- For small children under 3, do not leave small objects accessible. We talk about toys, covers, buttons, coins, ...Stairway, window and balcony guards
- Protect the stairs with railings so that they are not accessible to children as well as the sides. Tall windows must have locks so that a child cannot open it. Balconies should also have guards, and if they can be “climbed” you can place acrylic or another element that makes it look like a smooth surface.Beware of Pools
- Pools are one of the biggest dangers for children. Drowning is a silent and rapid accident. If you have a pool at home use a protective screen and a fence. Never let children play alone by the pool.Toxic products and medicines
- All toxic products, whether detergents, insecticides or pesticides must be inaccessible and locked (there are child safety locks that you can buy in supermarkets or DIY stores). Never put these products in unidentified bottles that may cause confusion. Medicines must follow the same rules.Cooking and heat sources
- When cooking, never have children too close to the stove or on your lap. These are risk situations. The same applies to heat sources such as fireplaces, stoves or other heaters.Elevators
- Don't let children under 10 use the elevator alone. They will not be mature enough to know what to do if the elevator stops.Sharp objects and weapons
- Any sharp objects, like knives, scissors or even something as seemingly harmless as toothpicks, should be away from children. Guns must be properly stored, not accessible to children.Dangerous foods
- There are some hazardous foods for children, such as nuts in babies with no teething yet, and chewing gum and candies for children up to 6 years old. They still do not realize that they cannot swallow chewing gum and may become fumbled with soft candies, which stick to the palate.Phone numbers
- Have the most commonly used emergency phone numbers in case of an accident (USA emergency number: 911).Be the example
- Last but not least, be the example! Children do many things by imitation. Take careful actions and always worry about explaining to children why the danger is present.
