An educational guide: How to keep your home a safe haven for your kids
Group 36
Being a Parent As a parent, all we want is to have happy healthy children. Our job is to protect our children and keep them out of harms way. The problem is, we may be exposing them to danger every day and not even be aware of it. A home is a family's “safe haven,� but often times, can actually be a very dangerous place for young children. Our goal is to help you get your home safe so that you can protect your little ones from hazards that could injure them or even worse cause death.
• Babies who are 12 months or younger can be at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Though SIDS cannot always be prevented, there are some ways to decrease your baby’s risk:
Sleeping
• Place you baby on their back to sleep. • Use a firm mattress, and remove any loose items from the crib (bumpers, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, toys, ect.).
Safe
• Don’t co-sleep, or allow you baby to fall asleep in your bed. • Make sure you don’t smoke around your baby, or expose them to any second-hand smoke.
Safe http://www.myflfamilies.com/se rvice-programs/child-welfare/saf esleep/caregivers
• The baby should sleep in your room, but not in your bed.
• Allow for you baby to sleep in a room with good airflow and ventilation.
Unsafe
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2328048/S udden-infant-death-Risk-times-higher-baby-sleeps -parents-bed.html
Securing your Furniture Every two week a child dies from a piece of furniture falling over on them (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2016) • The most common furniture tip-overs are caused by televisions (Safe Kids Worldwide, 2016). • Anchor heavy dressers and bookshelves to wall. • Remove tempting items, that may cause your child to climb a piece of furniture. • Use anchor straps to secure your television. • Protect sharp corners of furniture with foam coverings.
Electrical Safety Electrical outlets are extremely dangerous for children. SAFETY TIPS: ✓ Unplug and store electrical items when they are not in use. ✓ Cover outlets with outlet covers ✓ Conceal cords ✓ Hide your surge protectors
Prevent Accidental Poisoning at Home • Keep medicines out of reach of children. • Store chemical and cleaning supplies in upper locked cabinets. • Lock all lower, kid accessible cabinets with child proof security latches. • Teach young children the dangers of ingesting non food items. • Have the Poison Control phone number accessible in your home.
Pool Safety • Be sure pools and spas have a fence around them and a power safety cover when not in use • Make sure gates are locked and high enough that the child cannot reach them • Keep rescue equipment near the pool • Become CPR certified • Swimming classes are essential • Store pool supplies in a locked area
Safety with Dogs • Teach children safety with dogs such as not taking the dogs toy from their mouth and not taking the dogs food • Keep the dog in a safe area away from the baby if the dog shows any signs of aggression • Make sure the dog and child have interactions that are positive • Teach children not to approach any dogs that are not their own
Car Safety • Keep child within eyesight at all times • Do not allow the child to go in or around cars alone at any time • Make sure the child is strapped in correctly • Never allow the child in the front seat • Be sure car seats are facing the correct direction
References Baby Safety. (2017). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/baby-safety#1 Daily mail reporter. (2013). Sudden infant death risk 'is five times higher if the baby sleeps in its parents’ bed. Retrieved from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2328048/Sudden-infant-death-Risk-times-higher-baby-sleeps-parents-bed.html#ixzz4gkR81 CuK Dog Bite Prevention Information For Parents. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.doggonesafe.com/Dog_bite_prevention_for_parents Safe Kids Worldwide. (2016). TV and furniture tip-overs. Retrieved from: https://www.safekids.org/safetytips/field_risks/tv-and-furniture-tip-overs
References United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2016). Tip-over dangers. Retrieved from: https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/furniture-furnishings-and-decorations/1-child-dies -every-two-weeks What to expect: Swimming Pool Safety. (2017). Retrieved May 11, 2017, from http://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/ask-heidi/pool-safety.aspx