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SAFETY ADVICE

On this page you will find some reference points on how you can make your home a safer place.
The list is far from complete but it will be a start.


Electricity

Fire and Burnings

Other accidents


Safety Related Organisations

Poisons

ELECTRICITY


Old stuff.
Never use unsafe electrical equipment. Get rid of frayed or broken cords, cloth covered cords and improper extension cords.

Protection caps
Always use outlet covers and outlet caps, on all outlets, to prevent your child from shock hazards.

Don't repair.
Only repair electrical devices when you are familiar with them. If you are not sure consult a professional.

Overloading
Never overload wall outlets or extension cords.

Unplug.
If an appliance is not in use, unplug it. Always unplug by holding the plug, never pull at the cord.

Cords.
Keep electrical cords from touching heat producing appliances

GIF's
Install GFI (Ground-Fault Interrupters) outlets in any outlet located near a water supply.

Wind up.
Wind-up excess electrical cords, this prevents child from pulling fixture off the table and prevents tripping hazards.

Don't hide.
Never run extension cords under carpets.

Water !
Never use electrical equipment close to swimming pools, sprinklers, or other water sources.

More Tips comming soon !
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FIRE AND BURNINGS


For more information on fire safety and prevention, we recommend you contact the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).(link comming soon !)

Fire extinguishers.
At least one on each floor. Learn how to use them and teach your older children how to use them and keep them out of reach from young kids.

Emergency reaction.
Keep all the emergency numbers close to each phone. Teach your child as soon as possible the use of 911.

Burning by water.
Keep hot-water heater thermostats below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bathwater burnings
Always check bath water temperature with the back of your wrist, before placing child in bath water.

Smoke/fire detectors
Try to install them in each room or at least one on each floor. Tested them and their batteries regularly on a monthly basis. Use smoke detectors with escape lights.

Cooking.
Never carry your child while cooking. Turn all pot handles toward the rear of the stove.

Kitchen and playing.
Children should not be permitted to play in kitchen while cooking.

Kitchen storage.
Never store sweets above the stove. This way children won’t play around the stove when they want a snack.

Kitchen stoves
Ensure stove burner knobs are securely off. Use knob covers to prevent children from inadvertently turning the burners on.

Fire Place.
Install a proper screen and fire arresting device.

Cords.
Watch out for appliance cords who hang over the edge. Imagine the burn and head injury hazard falling irons or toasters can cause.

Firs aid manual.
Have a first aid book handy. Learn the special attention required by burns. Keep the phone number of your Doctor near the phone.

Flammable products.
Store products like paint, fuel, thinner, and so on outside of your home in a secured place. Make sure your children can't reach them.

Fire Escape Plan.
Make a fire escape plan. Practice the escape route together with your children.

Sun.
When putting objects outside then be very careful when they are in the sun. Objects may be extremely hot and cause contact burns.

Baby food.
Don’t forget to test the baby formula with the back of your wrist.

Lighters and Matches
Get lighters and matches out of reach of Children !
Warn your children about the danger of lighters and matches.

Stove Guard
A stove guard will prevent your children from turning on the knobs or reaching for hot pots and pans.

Microwaves
Avoid that your children use the microwave. Not all items can be safely used in a microwave. Try to place microwave ovens out of the reach of young child so they can’t place anything in the microwave oven. Teach children that the microwave heats food from the inside out. one bite may be all it takes to burn their mouth.

Hot Food.
Always place hot food items in the center of table to prevent child from pulling them off the table.

Handles
Check your pots and pans for loose handles, fix or replace them if necessary.

Curtains
Remove any curtains or hanging towels that could touch the burners of a gas stove.

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OTHER ACCIDENTS


Cutting 1
Keep all sharp utensils in a childproofed drawer childproofed cabinet.

Cutting 2
Try to avoid the use of tables with glass inserts.

Cutting 3
Never leave your knives or sharp utensils in the dishwasher or on the counter.

Cutting 4
Always store sharp objects like knives pointed toward the back of a drawer.

Cutting 5
Keep aluminum foil and wax paper boxes out of children's reach. The serrated boxes can easily cut little fingers.

Suffocating 1
Plastic bags belong in a locked childproof cabinet.

Suffocating 2
Remove small objects from lower shelves because these may pose a choking hazard.

Suffocating 3
Wind-up blind - cords or tie then near the top of the blind.

Suffocating 4
Mattress should fit snugly in crib frame to prevent child from getting stuck and suffocating.

Suffocating 5
Never allow anyone to eat while lying in bed or reclining on the couch.

Suffocating 6
Don't let children run around while eating.

Suffocating 7
To prevent suffocation, tie knots in plastic bags before discarding.

Head Injurys 1
Protect your child from the corner edges of your dining table. Often these are very sharp or jagged.

Crushing 1
Check your closets for stability. If there is any tumbling hazard you should bolt unstable furniture to the wall to prevent it from falling on your child.

Crushing 2
Use only garage door openers with automatic stopping devices. These doors will automatically reopen if they sense an obstruction.

Falling 1
Use window preventers and sliding glass door locks. They prevent your kid from falling through the window.

Falling 2
Don’t place objects on the stairs.

Falling 3
Make a gates to prevent children from playing on stairs.

Falling 4
Use bed rails to prevent child from falling out of bed.

Falling 5
Use a non-slip mat or stickers in the tub to prevent falls.

Falling 6
Make sure all carpets are firmly tacked or taped in place.

Falling 7
Prevent slips by immediately cleaning up any spills immediately.

Firearms
Keep guns securely locked away and always lock ammunition in a separate location. Install trigger locks on all guns.

Drowning 1
Never leave water stand in the tub or sink. It takes very little water to create a drowning hazard.

Drowning 2
NEVER leave child unattended in the bath.

Drowning 3
Keep swimming pool covered, ladder properly stowed, and gates to pool locked to prevent children from entering pool without supervision. Use a pool alarm which activates when something enters the water.

Drowning 4
Never leave water stand in Kiddy Pools. Always empty after use and turn upside down so rain water won’t fill the pool.

SAFETY RELATED ORGANISATIONS


American Academy Of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Boulevard
P.O.Box 927
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0927
847-228-5005
800-433-9016
American Red Cross National Headquarters
17th and D Streets, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
Council on Family Health
225 Park Avenue South, Suite 1700 New York, NY 10003 212-598-3617 		Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane Room 16-85 Rockville, MD 20857 301-443-3170
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
236 Route 38 West, Suite 100 Moorestown, NJ 08057 609-231-8500 		National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550 Arlington, VA 22201 703-235-3900
National Crime Prevention Council
1700 K Street, N.W., Second Floor Washington, DC 20006-3817 202-466-6272 		National Fire Protection Association
Batterymarch Park Quincy, MA 02269-9101 617-770-3000 617-328-9290
National Safety Council
1121 Spring Lake Drive Itasca, IL 60143 800-621-7619 Central Region 800-432-5251 Northeastern Region 800-441-5103 Southeastern Region 800-848-5588 Western Region 		United States Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814 301-504-0550 800-638-CPSC

POISON


Medicine: Kids imitate their parents !
Avoid taking medicine in front of children.

Medicine: Dosage
Consult your pediatrician before giving any medicine to your child. Get rid of old medicine now ! Always follow the dosage levels prescribed by your Doctor.

Lead Poisoning
Check paint for lead, test your water supply and get rid now of those old car batteries ! Always check your fine Crystal and China for lead and if there is never use them for serving food.

Carbon Monoxide
Yearly hundreds of dead !!
Use a Carbon Monoxide Detector in your home, have your chimney professionally cleaned each year, make sure that all combustion equipment is properly vented and have the furnace professionally inspected each year.

Reaction.
Keep the number of your Poison Control Center by every phone. If poisoning should occur, take the poison to the emergency room immediately.

Lock it away !
Keep harmful drugs, poisons, and household products safely locked away. Medicine belongs in a locked medicine cabinet. Poisons and Household products should be locked in also and kept separated from food items.

Plants
Get rid of poisonous house plants and learn which are toxic and which are not. Advice your kids about the danger!

Waste
Keep wastebaskets covered or out of reach of children.

Alcohol.
Lock away all alcohol.

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