Home safety is a matter that parents begin to worry about from the very first moment they learn they will have a child. Fortunately, there are a number of actions they can take to make their homes safer and to teach children of every age how to be safe in the home. Here are five areas of home safety that should be on the top of your list to keep your children safe at home every day.
Teach Electrical Safety
The average home has a wide variety of electrical appliances and devices that can pose a hazard when used incorrectly. Children should be taught about the dangers of electricity as soon as they become verbal. Rules should include never used electrical devices around water, not pulling plugs from the outlet by the cord and never put anything inside of an electrical outlet.
Fire Safety Starts at an Early Age
If parents are consistent about warning their children about the dangers of fire, the right behavior around a fire and educate them about the materials that can be ignited by fire, children will quickly integrate this information into their general information about life. Children should also learn about smoke detectors, the sound they make and what to do in case a fire occurs, including the escape routes from the home and where to meet outside the house.
Window and Door Safety
Children should be taught to never hang over window ledges or climb onto objects near open windows. Parents can also teach about keeping doors locked to prevent entry by strangers and never letting people they don’t know into the house. Locks should be complex enough to prevent very young children from wandering out of the house, yet should be easy enough for older children to manage, when needed. If you’re not sure how safe your windows and doors are, consult a company like Arch Design.
Stairway/ Safety
Both interior and exterior stair railings should be available and secure at all times. Children should be encouraged to use handrails whenever they navigate the stairs and to pay close attention to their footing. Teach your children to always keep stairways free of clutter to prevent accidental falls.
Water Safety
Children should also learn that even a small amount of water could be dangerous. Younger siblings should never be left unattended in the bath. If you have an aboveground or in-ground swimming pool, make sure children know they are not allowed to go in unless there is an adult present to supervise them.
Safety is a habit that children can learn at a young age and which can be of use throughout their lives. Repetition of safety rules and information can help to reinforce safe methods for using equipment in the home, during everyday use. These 5 areas are basic features of home safety rules, but they can be the basis for keeping safety in mind in other areas of their lives.