Today's parents have a million things on their minds. Safety in the home, although considered vital, is sometimes overlooked. For that reason, consider conducting the following home safety audit:
Proximity to windows: Furniture should not be placed near windows. Do accessible windows have safety guards? Are bushes planted beneath windows to break an accidental fall?
Furniture & Bedding: Do cribs meet current safety standards? Does the crib's mattress fit snuggly? Does it have safety bumpers?
Lead Paint: If the house was built prior to 1978, it could have lead based paint.
Meds & Chemicals: Medicines, household cleaners, matches and lighters need to be out of reach.
Stairways & Floors: Are safety gates at the top and bottom of every staircase? Are area rugs secure?
Sharp Edges & Lids: Are soft bumpers on the corners and sharp edges of furniture? Do toilet seats have safety locks?
Alarms: Are fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor?
Water & Electrical: Set the thermostat of your hot water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the chance of scalding. Do all electrical outlets have covers?
Emergency Game Plan: Can your children recite their address and phone number? Do they have a fire escape plan? Are emergency numbers posted for easy reference? Where is the First Aid kit?
Window Coverings: Is every window covering in your home designed with child safety in mind? Are there exposed loops that are not secured with a tension devise? Do window coverings have safety stops and are they properly positioned? If it is a stock blind, was the length of the product properly shortened? Obviously, we believe Hunter Douglas products that have LiteRise®, PowerRise®, and Ultra-Glide® operating systems are smart safety choices.
Learn more by visiting the Safety section of our web site or download our Child Safety brochure.