Most parents avoid letting their children play outdoors because of numerous threats like excessive heat, toxic plants, stings and bites caused by insects, vehicle accidents and bodies of water, but the reality is that they overlook potential dangers hidden inside the house, such as unsecured furniture, lead-laced toys, makeup, sugar overload and electronic devices. Since most of these items are part of a person’s everyday life, most parents overlook them, which is a big mistake because some of them can lead to injuries, serious health problems, and even death. For instance, all parents know that every baby’s favorite indoor activity refers to climbing and rocking on pieces of furniture, whether we are talking about dressers, TVs or bookcases. If these heavy items are not attached to the wall, they might fall on top of the small child. The same principle applies to toys. If the parents do not select carefully the type of toys purchased for the child by checking the labels, they might become a choking hazard or even cause hearing damage.
Main safety precautions that all parents should take
Thus, before parents start worrying about the negative consequences of environmental threats like respiratory toxins, stress, food and water contaminants on their child’s health, they should first evaluate the home environment and remove all the hidden dangers, which do not only include the items mentioned above, but also carbon monoxide poisoning, strangling, drowning, cuts, falls and burns, which represent hazards that are far more serious. The main safety precautions that all parents should take in order to create a safe indoor environment for their kids involve locking up safely cleaning products containing harsh chemicals, checking smoke detectors regularly, keeping sharp objects like knives out of reach, covering unused electrical outlets, keeping window blind cords out of reach or just installing plantation wooden shutters and keeping the door to the laundry room locked at all times. Moreover, all responsible parents should store medications safely, observe the ABCs of safe sleep, avoid smoking inside the house or around the children, prepare for emergencies and test for radon.
How to prepare for emergencies: basic items
Preparing for emergencies means having some basic items at disposal constantly, from water and nonperishable food to first-aid kit and baby supplies. Other things involve flashlight and batteries, cell phone, sleeping bag and at least a warm blanket, local maps, dust mask, matches and a manual can opener. Parents who cannot quit their bad habits, regardless their best intentions, should at least avoid smoking in the car or avoid taking the child to public places or locations that allow smoking because the air in such places is contaminated and extremely dangerous for a small child. Those parents who plan to take their little one to a day care center have to make sure beforehand that all the babysitters are nonsmokers. Safety gates, locks, and latches become fundamental when a baby comes into a family because they keep him away from household cleaners and high-traffic areas, one of these areas being the kitchen that contains numerous dangerous objects. Since radon represents one of the main causes leading to lung cancer, parents have the obligation to determine if the radioactive gas is in their home by testing for it and protecting the health of their kids.
How to prevent mold growth and poor indoor air quality
Poor indoor air quality and mold represent other major threats that can put a small child in danger. In fact, these even have the potential to affect an adult’s wellbeing so preventing or combating them is necessary in order to keep the entire family safe. Fortunately, homeowners benefit from solutions like investing in a humidifier adequate for a nursery and hire a mold removal company capable of tackling the matter. Most of the time, people realize they have mold inside the house when it is too late. The most common symptoms caused by this toxic fungus include shortness of breath, sneezing, wheezing, a sore throat and a runny nose as well as asthma complications. Since kids are more sensitive to environmental dangers, taking action immediately is vital. Those parents who want to prevent the appearance and growth of mold, to begin with, can hire an insulation contractor. Insulating the home can bring numerous benefits including improved indoor air quality, reduced energy waste, increased comfort, lower heating costs and peace of mind.
Ways to avoid common home hazards that might endanger a child
Keeping all the above in mind, some parents might still wonder: how do I minimize the risks of cutting, falling, poisoning, choking, burning and drowning? Well, what are the objects that one can use to cut? Make a list will all such objects that you have inside the house and put them away. It does not matter where as long as you can reach them but your child does not. Thus, storing kitchen supplies, locking the bathroom, closing the trash and putting away yard tools becomes imperative. Moving on to falls, it could happen to anyone, but small kids are more susceptible to this hazard because they still have problems with balance and coordination. Consequently, parents should take several safety measures like securing bathrooms, clearing outdoor steps, installing supports, stabilizing staircases and making sure that children do not suffer injuries during playtime. It is true that falling represents a common hazard occurring inside the house, which is why parents should pay extra attention to the surroundings.
Poisoning can be the result of carbon monoxide or home maintenance supplies. However, it does not matter the cause, the obligation of every parent is to keep away everything that might lead to such a troubling consequence. Thus, putting away hair or kin products, makeup, and other personal products, keeping paint out of reach and locking up detergent represent crucial actions that will protect the health of the child. When it comes to choking, parents should not allow their kids to play with any toy seen in the store. Even though burning is not as common as falling, when you have a small child in the house, you can afford to suffer from paranoia. Drowning can only happen in the bathtub or the pool and the parents need to be extra careful during such situations.
