Keep You Home Safe for Your Small Children
� Plants- If you have small children, make sure that none of your plants are poisonous.
� Drapes- Keep drape cords out of reach.
� Drawers and cupboards-Consider installing safety latches. This will keep children from touching sharp implements and dangerous cleaning products.
� Stairway- Is it well-lit and free of clutter? Make sure you have installed safety gates to help keep toddlers from falling?
� Stove- Keep the handles of pots and pans turned toward the back of the stove, especially while cooking.
� Broiler- Clean it frequently.
� Fire extinguisher- Keep at least one in the home, and make sure everyone of responsible age knows how to use it.
âÂ?¢ Cribs- Slats should be close together. The space around the mattress should not be large enough to allow an infant’s head to get caught.
� Windows- Safety bars will protect children from falls and can easily be removed by an adult in case of a fire.
� Vitamins and medicines- Keep these in a locked cabinet or in a place that is inaccessible to children.
� Bathtub- Never leave a small child in the tub unattended. It takes little time-and little water-for a child to drown.
� Furnace- Have your furnace checked periodically for carbon monoxide leaks.
� Barbecue grills- Make sure children are a safe distance from the grill when it is hot.
� Garage door- Instruct children never to run under a garage door while it is moving, especially if it is electrically operated.
� Smoke detectors- Keep them clean, and check them regularly. Change the batteries each year.
� Electrical cords and outlets- Discard frayed electrical cords. It is best if unused outlets have safety covers or inserts.
� Electrical appliances- Keep appliances away from the tub or the sink. Ground fault circuit interrupters can prevent shock.
� Toy chests- Equip a toy chest with one or more air holes and with hinges that keep the lid from dropping suddenly.
� Iron- Keep your iron-including its dangling cord-out of the reach of children.
What about toxic pollutants? According to Scientific American Magazine most citizens were very likely to have the greatest contact with these pollutants right inside their homes. The main sources of air pollution in most homes were the fumes that originated from ordinary cleaning compounds. Such as moth repellents, building materials, fuels, deodorizers, and disinfects. For example when a house is shut tight to keep out the winters cold, off gassing of various chemicals can contribute to a high level of indoor pollution.
Toddlers are the most vulnerable when it comes to these pollutants, since they are closer to the floor. Below are a few precautions that you can take to protect your home from these indoor pollutants.
1. Try to store most chemicals that give off vapors where they will not contaminate the air in your home. These chemicals include formaldehyde and products containing volatile solvents, such as paint, varnish, adhesives, pesticides, and cleaning solutions.
2. Have good ventilation in all rooms, including the bathroom.
3. Wipe your feet before you step indoors. This simple act, says Scientific American, can reduce the amount of lead in a typical carpet by a factor of six. It also cuts down on pesticides.
4. If you treat a room with a pesticide, keep toys out of that room for at least two weeks, even though the product label may say the room is safe hours after treatment.
5. Minimize your use of pesticides.
6. Have flaking leaded paint removed from all surfaces, and repaint with unleaded paint. Do not allow children to play in dirt contaminated with leaded paint. If lead in plumbing is suspected, the cold-water tap should be flushed briefly until there is a noticeable change in water temperature, and water from the hot-water tap should not be used for drinking.
