| Half of the battle in preventing serious or potentially | | | | instead of indoor danger zones like kitchens or |
| lethal injuries in children is knowing what the most | | | | bathrooms. |
| common causes of harm are. Unfortunately, the | | | | 5. Fires. Children will be affected by the dangerous |
| experts see the exact same scenarios occurring over | | | | smoke fumes much more quickly than an adult, and |
| and over again, and it seems like no one is heeding | | | | should therefore be taught to escape the house at |
| the warnings. It becomes far too easy to live by | | | | the first sign of a fire. Go over the safety and |
| the mantra that is “won’t happen to | | | | escape plan regularly with children, and be sure to |
| me,” but it is never a good idea to apply this | | | | install a home security system with fire and flood |
| careless philosophy to an unknowing child. | | | | protection. |
| Therefore, all parents should be aware when thinking | | | | 6. Nursery Furniture. This includes highchairs, |
| about home security and child safety, that the | | | | grams, cribs and more. Children may find a way to |
| following are some of the most common causes of | | | | wriggle out and become either lodged or entangled in |
| injuries in children. | | | | the furniture, or suffer a fall. Shop for well |
| 1. Car Accidents. Kids may think the car seat is | | | | reviewed children’s furniture and make sure all |
| uncomfortable, or may be travelling in a vehicle which | | | | harnesses are extra secure. |
| has not been properly child-equipped. Whatever the | | | | 7. Scalds. From extremely hot tap water to tea, |
| reason, it is not the lack of restraints but the | | | | coffee, or boiling water on a stove top, curious kids |
| improper use of them which leads to car accidents | | | | may turn on, or pull hot water on top of them |
| consistently being the most common cause of | | | | causing severe scalding. Keep hot water out of |
| accidental child injury or death. | | | | reach, and consult a plumber right away should the |
| 2. Drowning. One of the biggest threats to home | | | | tap water be far too hot. |
| security for children, drowning can be easily | | | | 8. Poisoning. Keep all household medicines, cleaners |
| prevented by keeping all sources of water away | | | | and chemicals under lock and key. Have a home |
| from children unless under 100% adult supervision. | | | | security device installed with 24/7 customer care to |
| Be careful with all water sources, including, pools, | | | | make quick calls for help. |
| showers, baths, ponds, water buckets, toilets, and | | | | 9. Bicycles. Insist that kids wear all proper safety |
| anywhere else you can think of. | | | | gear, and have strictly enforced rules about where |
| 3. Pedestrians. Teach kids about traffic safety, | | | | and when they are allowed to ride. |
| especially if you live in a high-traffic area. Teach kids | | | | 10. Skateboards and In-Line Skates. Using knee |
| how to safely cross the street, even if the rule is | | | | pads, wrist guards, elbow guards, and a helmet are |
| they are never to cross alone. It´s better safe | | | | the only way to truly protect a child from injury or |
| than sorry should a child decided to cross solo for | | | | death while using a skateboard or skates. Teach |
| whatever reason. | | | | kids what appropriate attire they should wear, and |
| 4. Falls. This most common cause of child injury | | | | allow kids to pick out their safety gear themselves. |
| can be guarded against by taking home security | | | | If they think it’s “cool,” they’ll be |
| measures like installing safety rails, and encouraging | | | | much more likely to wear it. |
| kids to limit climbing to designated outdoor areas, | | | | |