How To Keep Your Child Safe

How safe is your Home?

7 tips to follow

There are State rules for Florida that mandate precautions that will help in keeping children safe and in an healthy environment to learn and grow. BUT... is there any reason that these legislative rules cannot just as easy apply to the home you live in? I think not.

I would like to share just some of the sensible rules that you can easily follow to add that extra protection for your child.  I'm citing from the Childcare Facilities Handbook October 2017, which has introduced some very important changes that strengthen the safety aspects for the care of your child.  Here are some tips to help you.

  1. CRIBS: Make sure they are away from strangulation risks such as window blinds and drapery and have no more than 2 3/8 inch gap between bar spacings. Please get rid of your crib if it has drop down sides as it's not Federally safe compliant . Sheets should be tight and there should be no excess bedding, bumper pads, hanging mobiles, quilts, comforters, pillows or stuffed animals, in case of a smothering incident. Check out https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/cribs

  2. FOOD: For those children under 4yrs do not serve these choking hazards

    • Whole round hot dogs ( slice them up length ways)
    • Popcorn
    • Chips
    • Pretzel nuggets
    • Whole grapes
    • Nuts
    • Cheese cubes 
  3. VEHICLES: DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN IN A VEHICLE UNSUPERVISED AT ANY TIME even if you think you are only popping into the store for a quick purchase. In Florida temperatures can soar to a lethal level in minutes. Talking about the Florida sun, test the seat belt buckles for heat as we have had incidents where the buckle was so hot that when you secure the child in, it leaves a very painful burn and a very unhappy child and a very guilty feeling for you. One extra titbit, as your child will grow very quickly please re-adjust the straps on the child seat to prevent friction burns on the inner thighs.
  4. TOXIC substances and dangerous items: It's very easy in the rush of preparing the dinner or cleaning up the house, to leave potentially deadly items around. Please be vigilant in putting items such as bleach, cleaning spray, knives, sharp tools away, well out of reach of your child. Don't store toxic substances such cleaning fluids or alcohol under the sink where a child can easily reach into. lock them away or at least have them well out of reach. All cupboards should have safety locks on them.
  5. PLAY equipment: regularly inspect the equipment and surrounding areas for hazards such as rotting structures or sharp objects such as protruding nails. test the temperatures of any metal or hard plastic for heat when its sunny. try and place your plastic slide chute out of direct sunlight.
  6. STRANGULATION:    Tie up or hookup any loose blind pulls out of the reach of your child.
  7. ELECTRICAL: Cover all sockets not in use with covers you can buy from Walmart or home depot. A few cents may just save a life. 

These rules are there because some child, somewhere, has either died or been seriously injured because of a failure of someone to properly care for the health and safety of their child. Don't let that person be you.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions on improving the safety of your home for your child. KEEP SAFE