When it comes to home safety, children are a population group that is particularly vulnerable to accidents. According to data provided by UNICEF, more than 1,600 children and adolescents die every day worldwide from such injuries, which amounts to 66 fatal accidents per hour.
In fact, in Spain , 15% of accidents involve children under the age of 14, making it the second leading cause of death among children in Spain. Among the leading causes are choking, suffocation, or strangulation by objects such as bags, balloons, coins, or small toy parts (21%), as well as drowning (13%).
Given their nature, many of these incidents could be prevented and avoided. That’s why, in today’s blog post, we’d like to share some tips to help you ensure your children’s safety at home.
Recommendations for Child Safety at Home
Constant monitoring
Approximately 6 out of every 10 accidents involving children between the ages of 1 and 4 are caused by parental negligence. In a matter of seconds, young children can find themselves in a situation that puts their physical safety at risk, such as falling into a pool and beginning to drown.
Therefore, parents or guardians should be especially vigilant when caring for children and increase their vigilance the younger the children are. And to put this safety measure into practice, they can follow the “20/10” rule. According to this rule, in high-risk areas, such as swimming pools or parks, the adult in charge should look at the child at least once every 10 seconds and remain within a distance that can be covered in less than 20 seconds. This time will allow them to act in the event of a life-threatening situation.
Take special care in the kitchen and bathroom
These are the two rooms in the home where the most accidents involving children occur, due to the many hazards they pose to young children: burns, falls, poisonings, drownings… Therefore, it is advisable to restrict children’s access to the kitchen and to store items that could be dangerous to them—such as cutlery or sharp tools—in safe places that are out of their reach.
In addition, to ensure children’s safety at home, we must also take specific safety measures regarding kitchen appliances and furniture. For example, use induction cooktops instead of glass-ceramic or gas stoves, or install safety locks so that access to cabinets, drawers, or doors (such as those on the oven, microwave, or washing machine) is blocked off from young children.
Similarly, in the bathroom, we should also keep medications and cleaning products separate, as well as prevent slips by using anti-slip solutions: placing mats or anti-slip stickers—both in the tub and on the bathroom floor—or installing grab bars or handles in the tub. After all, when it comes to babies, it’s best to use special baby bathtubs or seats to bathe them safely.
Avoiding Electrical Hazards
Electric shocks are another risk factor to consider when it comes to children’s safety at home. Children’s curiosity and the proximity of electrical outlets can draw their attention to them, so using specific outlet covers is almost a must if there are babies who are crawling or young children who are unaware of the dangers of electricity.
In addition, you should keep them away from any electrical outlets and cords to prevent them from playing with or getting tangled up in them. Their play areas must be completely safe and must not interfere with appliances or devices connected to the power grid; therefore, if they are in the bathroom, we must make sure they do not use any of these items.
Fall Prevention
Children are particularly susceptible to falls from great heights, such as those from windows, balconies, or the top of a flight of stairs. Due to a lack of awareness, they may approach an open space and end up falling, so it’s important to avoid leaving them alone in elevated areas and to arrange furniture in such a way that they cannot climb to reach them.
It’s also important to keep the floor of the home as clear as possible, place corner guards on furniture they might bump into, and secure doors and windows so they can’t open them on their own. In this regard, there are locks available for different types of openings, such as sliding or tilt-and-turn windows, so all you need to do is find the most suitable one to ensure that only adults can control their use.
Caution: Risk of Burns
Child safety at home must take into account the risk of thermal burns. If we follow the tips already discussed for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, we’ll minimize this danger for young children—though they aren’t the only ones who can help us. For example, when preparing a bath for them, you should check the water temperature, keeping in mind that their skin is especially delicate: for newborns, it should be around 24°C, while for older babies, it should be similar to their body temperature: between 35 and 38°C.
In addition, adults should take certain precautions when using appliances and objects that reach high temperatures, such as irons, ovens, heaters, etc. And if the home has outdoor spaces, such as gardens, protect them from sunburn by using sunscreen, visors, or umbrellas.
Purchasing Safe Toys
Ensuring children’s safety at home must extend to the items they use most throughout the day: their toys. When purchasing toys, be sure to check the labeling carefully to make sure the toy is age-appropriate for the child. And once purchased, parents should review the instructions to ensure the child uses the toy properly.
In this regard, it is especially important to ensure that babies do not play with products or objects that may contain small parts, which they could put in their mouths and end up swallowing. Performing simple checks to verify that these items comply with national and international manufacturing standards and that they are not made from toxic materials will minimize the risk and help ensure peace of mind at home.
Safety Education
Finally, one of the best decisions we can make to ensure children’s safety at home is to teach them about existing dangers and how to prevent them. By the time they’re 4 or 5 years old, children can already tell the difference between right and wrong, so this can be a good time to start teaching them some basic concepts to help them avoid dangerous situations and take basic safety precautions when playing, both at home and on the street.
CULMIA helps you create a safe home for seniors and children
What did you think of our tips for keeping children safe at home? We hope they’ll help your family prevent any accidents at home, so your children can grow up healthy and happy in a comfortable and safe environment.
And if you want to learn more about home safety, don’t hesitate—download our comprehensive guide for free today. It includes these and other recommendations to ensure that well-being and home safety aren’t just for the young.
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