Top 10 Home Hazards for Children

 According to SafeKids, a non-profit organization – more than 2,000 children under the age of 14 die as a result of injuries in the home. And here is the list of the most prevalent issues for families to be aware of:

 

#10      Small Toys and Foods that can create a choking hazard. NOTE: if the toy can fit inside a toilet paper roll, then it is too small. And monitor a child while eating grapes, hotdogs and popcorn.

 

#9        Cleaning Supplies & Pesticides are toxic to adults…and your child can have a stronger rate of breathing and smaller body mass which means that the concentration in their bodies can be deadly.

 

#8        Bathtubs & Mop Pails are not safe if children are too young to support themselves; drowning can occur in 15 seconds.

 

#7        Firearm safety is becoming an issue as we hear more about children taking a weapon to school or accidentally “playing” with a sibling. Make sure you know if a child is visiting a family that has firearms. And if you have one, make sure that the weapon is stored with a safety and your child is educated that this is not a toy.

 

#6        Pills and Alcohol can be deadly as some people forget to child-proof medications and they forget that “fruity drinks” at a picnic can taste like a slurpee and alcohol poisoning can result. Never refer to pills as “candy” or the child may think it is okay to eat.

 

#5        Burns. Stoves can be the biggest issue, but most people forget about the microwave. Imagine the child trying to warm up a cup of cocoa or bowl of soup/oatmeal and then dropping it…a third degree burn in less than five seconds from a cup of hot coffee.

 

#4        Cribs & Crib Bedding can suffocate a child if they are tangled in the crib. While that “amazing bedding may look great, the only items that should be in a baby crib are mattress, sheet and blanket. And don’t buy the cheapest crib because the adhesives used to glue it together could have formaldehyde. If you want to check on products that have been recalled, visit www.cpsc.gov to research

 

#3        Bookcases, Stoves & Larger Furniture can topple when a child uses it to leverage when they are reaching for something; make sure it is anchored to the wall. If you store cookies and candy at the top, a child may not have impulse control and may try to “climb” the bookcase. And imagine if a child opens the oven door and stands on the door to reach something on the stove and you forget to install a ‘bracket’

 

#2        Window Screens & Flimsy Fences Around Pools. Imagine a child leaning on the window screen that is only meant to keep a bug out; or a flimsy fence around a pool when kids are playing tag.

 

#1        Cords from televisions, window treatments, lamp cords, or athletic equipment (note: Mike Tyson). And beware of any toy with a 7” or longer string as that is a bit smaller than the size of a child’s neck.

  

(Robin Wilson presented this list on Sept. 18, 2009 on Martha Stewart Radio, on "Living Today" hosted by Mario Bosquez - Sirius Satellite Radio)

Comments

[Donna Phillips]

I had a friend whose child died because of carelessness. The child was left playing around until he reached the bathtub. There the poor child got drowned to death.