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Every house has danger zones, but do you know where your household's hazards are? When children live in your home, it is your responsibility to make sure that these hazards are minimized, otherwise your child could end up like the hundreds of thousands of children who die every year from preventable injuries.
Although we are listing many of the common dangers in this article, there may be many more in your home or outside. Always be on the lookout for possible injury sites and take the necessary steps to correct them before an emergency strikes. When you or your child are in a friend's home, make sure you keep an eye out for danger zones as well. See our childproofing article for ways to address common household hazards.
Never feel uncomfortable telling someone that an area of their home is dangerous. If a child or adult hurts themselves in your home, you are responsible both legally and emotionally for their injuries. So, telling someone that they have an area of concern could be saving both parties from a lot of trouble! If you really don't want to say anything, just print this article out and leave it in their mailbox with the name of the hazard at the bottom of the list!
The following is a list of common household dangers. It should be used as a cheecklist for your home and in any homes you visit to reduce the chances of a medical emergency.
- electrical outlets
- hair dryers
- dangling electrical or window cords
- exposed electrical wires
- sharp corners
- glass edges
- small objects such as coins, marbles, rubber balls, paper clips, thumb tacks
- cleaning supplies
- medications
- cosmetics (make-up, lotions, shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste)
- hot beverages
- pot handles on the stove that are not pushed back and out of reach
- knives or scissors
- carpet that is not flush with the ground or that is not tacked down
- area rugs that are folded or do not have slip pads
- stairways without guards
- toilets or buckets with water
- cars
- chemicals andgardening supplies
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Along with childproofing, supervision and preparation you will be doing your part to responsibly care for your child by looking for hazards. It is recommended that all caregivers of children take annual courses in CPR and First Aid. Another tool for educating yourself about common emergencies is our DVD Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers. Order one today and watch it with all caregivers regularly. For your convenience, we have a Post Video Discussion Guide for parents and caregivers to review together aftewards.
Keeping children safe is a full time job and requires constant attention. By reading our site and learning about safety, you are doing exactly what all caregivers should be doing. Keep up the good work!
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