Children — anyone who has them must be as careful as possible. All it takes is a blink of an eye for domestic accidents to happen, and that’s when the headache begins. The younger the child, the greater the risk of domestic accidents. So, what can be done to prevent them? The truth is that with the holidays approaching, extra care must be taken because with the kids at home, the risk of domestic accidents increases even more. So, when talking about precautions against domestic accidents, we can emphasize the possible main hotspots in the following places: kitchen, bathroom, backyard, laundry area, living room, and bedroom.
The whole house? Yes! With all the energy kids have and so many risks that parents often don’t even imagine in their own homes, domestic accidents can happen even before we can see an imminent danger. Let’s now highlight the accident hotspots in each room of the house, and outside it as well.
How to help prevent domestic accidents with children
In the kitchen: One of the main areas that must be carefully monitored in the kitchen is the stove. Simple precautions, like keeping pot handles turned inward and cooking whenever possible on the back burners, can help avoid many domestic accidents, especially with younger children. The incidence of second and third-degree burns in children up to 5 years old from spilled boiling liquids in the kitchen has decreased thanks to awareness of these safety rules, but it doesn’t hurt to reaffirm and remind how to act with small children at home during meal preparation.
But we shouldn’t only worry about the pots on the stove. It’s very important to remember that the kitchen is full of traps for domestic accidents, such as the gas cylinder itself. Keeping outlets far away from them is a great idea, and always check for leaks; at any sign of leakage, place the cylinder in an open area and never touch the switches or anything that could cause sparks. The sink also poses some dangers for children, such as the dish rack — did you know that? Yes, dishes can hurt a child if they can reach them, and imagine a knife hanging from the rack or plates that could fall on the baby or child. That’s why it’s important to always keep dishes inside the cabinets. After washing, try to dry and put them away, so accidents with children are less likely to happen. The same rule applies to the table; leaving the table set with all crockery, plates, spoons, forks, knives, glasses, and even dishes with hot food or beverages can fall on a child if they pull the tablecloth. So, always be alert when placing a baby near the table, and keep a safe distance so they don’t pull the cloth — it is very important.
Laundry area: Cleaning products. This is the biggest risk in the laundry area. Avoiding leaving products within children’s reach is fundamental. Especially brightly colored products in PET bottles, those used for soda, for example. The child may mistake it for juice or soda. Poisoning from cleaning products in children is one of the main causes of domestic accidents. Other accidents in the laundry area can be related to the iron.
Keeping children away from the ironing board and iron while ironing is essential for their safety and to prevent burns. Speaking of burns, outlets should also be a concern for parents. At this age, curiosity is stronger than awareness of risk, so a spoon can easily become a dangerous object in a child’s hand. Preventing shocks is easy — just cover all outlets at a child’s reach; this tip applies to the whole house.
In the bathroom: The toilet lid should always be kept down, as small children who can reach the toilet may fall in, and just three inches of water is enough to cause drowning. Buckets in the laundry should also be kept out of reach to prevent drowning.
In the living room: The corners of tables should be protected with silicone guards, both high and low, to avoid unnecessary head bumps and bruises. Also, homes with center or side tables with glass tops can be hotspots for accidents with young children, with the risk of breaking more easily. Modern TVs, which are thinner, can also be a major hazard — imagine they are light enough for a young child to pull and tip over onto themselves.
In the bedroom: Beds — jumping on the bed is dangerous! Not letting children jump on the bed prevents many unnecessary falls. Never leave babies who can already roll over unattended, either — always have everything on hand before each diaper change or any procedure that requires putting the baby on the bed. Never leave anything inside the crib that the baby can use to climb and fall out.
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In the backyard: Pay extra attention in homes with a pool — fascination with water can lead a small child to the pool before the responsible adult is aware of the risk when the accident occurs.
Tips for all areas of the house: Always use safety gates at the top of stairs. This is an essential tool for preventing domestic accidents from falls. Protect any place that provides access to electricity, including extension cords used inside the house. Install safety nets on windows and balconies in apartments or higher houses to prevent falls.
Other areas of caution: Be very careful with toys — always buy those suitable for the correct age and without small pieces your child might put in their mouth and accidentally swallow. The same goes for coins and pen or marker caps. Preventing domestic accidents is very simple. Of course, anything can happen in the blink of an eye, but keeping the house safe is essential for the kids.
Blogger’s note: I’ve had many scares with falls involving children, but I’ve learned that keeping an eye out, as well as keeping the house safe, is very important. As children grow up, teaching them is fundamental. Warning them and explaining all the problems and accidents that can happen if, out of curiosity, a child decides to mess with something risky can help prevent a good portion of accidents. Prevention is the key word and guidance is fundamental.
See also: Accidents With Children – Unavoidable Scares
Photo: Conforto On Line
