Let’s start out by admitting nothing can be childproofed. The following information may help, but as the father of limit-testing, endlessly-inquisitive young lads -and as a recovering kid myself- experience has taught me there are no substitutes for constant, careful parental supervision. Kids tend to stay a step ahead of the engineers who design these things, but here is a partial list of easy ways to make your home a little safer:
In the house
Electrical receptacle protectors are pretty common, but some are better than others. The little plastic ones that simply slide into the receptacle are outdated. The best ones are easily fastened to the screw that secures the coverplate and have latched covers on them. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
Any room being used as a bedroom must have at least one window that will open to at least 20 X 24 inches and the interior sill must be no higher than 44 inches from the floor. In an emergency, the window could be your child’s only escape, and a firefighter’s only way into the house. Most casement windows don’t cut it.
Instead of raising the lower window sash in the nice weather, lower the top sash. It makes it much harder for small children to fall or throw things outside.
Wood stoves are very dangerous because they can cause a third degree burn on bare skin in a fraction of a second. Sturdy gates can be obtained to keep your children away from the stove, but they must still be closely supervised because if a toy somehow makes it over the gate and onto the stove, it could catch fire quickly.
There are also covers for the often sharp edges of raised fireplace and wood stove hearths. These are also relatively easy to install and could save you a trip to the emergency room.
Don’t forget to visit the consumer Product Safety Commission’s web site at www.cspc.gov every once in a while. It will surprise you to learn what toys and household products have been recalled because they are dangerous.
Oven locks and special plastic rings that fit over the burner controls make it almost impossible for your curious little one to turn on the stove when you aren’t there.
Before you have children, it doesn’t matter where your carving knives and kitchen appliances were kept. Once the kids master the art of walking, however, their little eyes turn upward and they will pull things down off the counter as soon as they can reach them, so place dangerous items judiciously and when in doubt, put them w-a-a-a-a-y out of reach.
When kids see their favorite characters on television, its natural for them to touch or even try to hug the screen. Many children have been seriously hurt by pulling large television sets onto themselves. There are several devices on the market today to fasten bookshelves, TV’s and other heavy items to the wall to prevent these disasters.
If you live in a multi-family dwelling, be sure that all stairways leading to and from your unit are clear of storage, debris, etc. This is required by all major Codes and is paramount to your safety in an emergency.
The Bathroom
Medicine, razor blades, and cleaners must obviously be kept far from children’s reach. Remember, at about 18 months old, many children will be able to move an object like a chair, or a toilet training “potty” and climb up onto it to gain access to a counter they could not previously reach.
Toilet locks are relatively new and very effective, just remember to teach your guests how these things work. They keep the lid closed to protect your child from the always gross, but potentially fatal hazard of the unguarded toilet.
Removable non slip pads are great in the bathtub. They provide traction on the surface of the tub to help prevent your young ones from falling and they can be removed for when you don’t need them or if you’re taking a bath on the road.
Don’t buy bathtub toys that squirt water for your kids. Water left stagnant inside the toy between baths will grow molds and can harbor serious pathogens. The inside of these toys cannot be properly cleaned.
Buy a candy thermometer and check the temperature of the hot water. If its higher than 120°F, lower it. It takes just a few seconds of contact with 150°F water to give your child a third degree burn. The hot water in some homes can be as dangerously high as 180°F.
Outside
Keep the windows rolled up and the doors locked when the car is parked. Every year there are reports of a child playing in a car who released the emergency brake, rolling the car into the street.
Decks and porches more than 30 inches from the ground should have railings at least 36 inches high or higher. You should not be able to pass a five inch diameter ball between the balusters either. Railings must also be very stiff. If you can shake the railing significantly, it ought ro be reinforced.
Check the stamp in the corners of your sliding glass door. If you don’t see the words “Tempered Safety Glass” then its plate glass, which is a real hazard if a child (or adult) runs into it and breaks it. Plate glass doors should be replaced with tempered safety glass.
Swimming pools are a lot of fun, but they present several hazards. The fence around a pool should make it impossible for an unsupervised young child to get in the pool. Also, any electrical devices near the pool must be plugged into a GFCI protected electrical receptacle.
Garage doors are the heaviest moving object in most house. For your family’s safety, automatic garage door opener manufacturers recommend that you conduct these tests at least once each month:
• When the door is open, place a one inch tall, solid object (a 2x4 laid flat
works well) where the garage door meets the garage floor, then close the
door. The door must reverse when it hits the obstruction.
• If the door stops on the obstruction, turn the down limit obstruction screw
on your garage door opener counter clockwise ¼ turn. Then repeat the
test.
• When the door reverses, remove the one inch object and open and close
the door 2 or 3 times to test the adjustment. If the door will not reverse
after repeated adjustment attempts, it should be adjusted, repaired, or
replaced by a professional. For additional information, consult the
manufacturer.
Jim Morrison
978.851.6315
Morrison Home Inspections
"Each house tells a story. We write 'em down."
Hablo Español
Empowering homebuyers with the information they need to make solid decisions since 1987
No comments:
Post a Comment