Child Safety Assessment
Things to Consider
- Poison
control and other emergency telephone numbers are clearly posted on every
phone.
The Poison Control Hotline is 1-800-222-1222 and their web site is American Association of Poison Control Centers . - Learn
C.P.R. and First Aid. Check your local
American Red Cross, hospital or fire department for class information. Get training in basic water rescue skills.
- Have you considered possible health risks from — and if indicated,
tested for — lead, radon, asbestos, mercury, mold, and carbon monoxide?
- Determine
if your house has lead hazards. Lead
could be in dust, paint, or soil.
- Supervise
your children at all times and never leave them alone when near any source of
water.
- Test your smoke detectors monthly.
- Change
batteries twice a year when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.
- Establish a minimum 3 foot “kid-free zone” around high risk areas such
as cooktops, ovens, fireplaces, space heaters and gas grills.
- When cooking, turn all pot handles on the stove inward or place on back
burners where kids can't reach them.
- Store
medicines, cleaners, alcohol & toiletries in high locked cabinets. (2 barriers are best.)
These should be stored in their original containers to ensure proper knowledge of the contents. - Vitamin or medicine bottles should be tightly closed and stored in a
high cabinet far from reach.
- Bottles containing alcohol should be stored out of reach.
- Review
your emergency evacuation plan regularly with all family members.
- Store matches and lighters in a locked cabinet.
- Keep all plastic garbage bags and sandwich bags out of reach.
- Verify that you children’s sleepwear is flame-retardant.
- Remove the drawstrings from your child's clothing.
- Set the thermostat on the hot water heater below 120°F (49°C)?
- Are toilet lids always left closed?
- Are childproof caps on all medications?
- Have you checked that all used or hand-me-down baby equipment hasn't
been recalled?
- Have you checked for and removed other potential electrical fire
hazards, such as overloaded electrical sockets and electrical wires running
under carpets?
- Have your wood-burning fireplace/chimney inspected and cleaned annually?
- Have you instituted a no-smoking rule in your home to protect kids from
environmental tobacco smoke?
- Do you always supervise your child around pets, especially dogs?
- Determine
if your plants are poisonous and learn their common and botanical names in case
you need to identify them to a poison center.
Remove any poisonous plants and keep all plants out of reach. Plants pieces are also a choking hazard.
- Inspect your house for any old appliances or
chests, including hope chests/blanket chests , that could be an entrapment
hazard for your children.