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.