November is National Child Safety and Protection Month. Thanks to ChildWatch.com for the following swiftly suggestions checklist of things you can do around the house to keep children safe:
• Keep things tidy. Keep walkways and areas near stairs clear of clutter to help prevent falls. Storage bins offer a great way to store toys and baby supplies, preventing anyone from tripping.
• Safety when cooking. When cooking, use the back burners of the stove and turn handles toward the back of stove, so children can’t reach or knock the pots over.
• Safety with Food. Choking on food can be a serious hazard for many children, both young and old. Some foods are more dangerous, such as hot dogs, hard candies and nuts. Foods like these cause up to 40% of all child choking deaths.
• Help prevent potential issues by monitoring what your child eats and breaking or cutting it up into smaller bites whenever possible.
• Help prevent potential issues by monitoring what your child eats and breaking or cutting it up into smaller bites whenever possible.
•Use safety gates. Even before your baby crawls, install safety gates and protect curious children from harm. Hardware mounted gates should be installed at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Prepare for bedtime: Remove all soft, fluffy and loose bedding from the baby’s sleep area. This includes pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads, sleep positioners, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft products.
• Be mindful of plants. Choose decorative plants that are nontoxic. Common household plants can often cause serious sickness.
• Update your exterior. Place a welcome mat outside your home or apartment. Pesticides and other toxins may be carried inside on the soles of people’s shoes.
• Lock it up. Put locks on anything and everything that can open.
• Be cautious of choking hazards. Be vigilant about coins, marbles, keys, jewelry, paper clips, water bottle tops, safety pins, removable rubber tips on doorstops, jeweled decorations on children’s clothing, and crayons. Keep coin lithium batteries, or “button batteries,” and any devices that contain them, out of reach of children; they can be fatal if swallowed.
• Check out your furniture. Use angle braces or anchors to secure large furniture to the wall. Place TVs, VCRs and stereo systems on lower furniture, as far back as possible.
• Hot water: Set hot water heaters no higher than 120 degrees F. A lower water temperature reduces the chance of scald burns. Munchkin’s White Hot Super Safety Bath Ducky can help you manage the temperature of water in your children’s baths.
Consider your world from a child's perspective and make sure children will be safe. For parents, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of their children. Follow these tips to help keep your loved ones safe and secure.
Dave Reed Insurance wants all children to be safe. If you have insurance questions or needs, feel free to call our office, (888)600-7333. We will be happy to help.
Dave Reed Insurance wants all children to be safe. If you have insurance questions or needs, feel free to call our office, (888)600-7333. We will be happy to help.