| Did you know that you can childproof your
| |
| | $5.00 and up.
|
| home for a fraction of what it would cost
| |
| | 4. Anti-scald devices - use for faucets
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| to have a professional do it? Child
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| | and shower heads and set your water
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| safety devices are available at hardware
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| | heater temperature to 120 degrees
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| stores, baby equipment shops,
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| | Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot
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| supermarkets, drug stores, home and linen
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| | water. An anti-scald device will cost
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| stores, and through mail order
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| | from $6.00 to $30.00
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| catalogues.
| |
| | 5. Smoke detectors - use on every level
|
| Here are 10 child safety devices you need
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| | of your home and near bedrooms to alert
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| to help prevent injuries to young
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| | you to fires. Smoke detectors are
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| children.
| |
| | essential safety devices for protection
|
| 1. Safety latches and locks - use on
| |
| | against fire deaths and injuries.
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| cabinets and drawers to help prevent
| |
| | Check smoke detectors once a month to
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| children from gaining access to medicines
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| | make sure they're working. If detectors
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| and household cleaners, as well as knives
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| | are battery-operated, change batteries at
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| and other sharp objects.
| |
| | least once a year or consider using
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| Look for safety latches and locks that
| |
| | 10-year batteries. A smoke detector
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| adults can easily install and use, but
| |
| | usually costs less than $10.00.
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| that are sturdy enough to withstand pulls
| |
| | 6. Window guards and safety netting - use
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| and tugs from children. Safety latches
| |
| | to help prevent falls from windows,
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| are not a guarantee of protection, but
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| | balconies, decks, and landings. Check
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| they can make it more difficult for
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| | these safety devices frequently to make
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| children to reach dangerous substances.
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| | sure they are secure and properly
|
| Even products with child-resistant
| |
| | installed and maintained. There should be
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| packaging should be locked away, out of
| |
| | no more than four inches between the bars
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| reach. A safety latch or lock usually
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| | of the window guard.
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| costs less than $2.00
| |
| | If you have window guards, be sure at
|
| 2. Safety gates - use to help prevent
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| | least one window in each room can be
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| falls down stairs and keep children away
| |
| | easily used for escape in a fire. Window
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| from dangerous areas. Look for safety
| |
| | screens are not effective for preventing
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| gates that children can't easily
| |
| | children from falling out of windows. A
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| dislodge, but that adults can open and
| |
| | window guard or safety netting usually
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| close without difficulty. For the top of
| |
| | costs from $8.00 to $16.00.
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| stairs, gates that screw to the wall are
| |
| | 7. Corner and edge bumpers - use to help
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| more secure than pressure gates.
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| | prevent injuries from falls against sharp
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| New safety gates that meet safety
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| | edges of furniture and fireplaces. Be
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| standards display a certification seal
| |
| | sure to look for bumpers that stay
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| from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers
| |
| | securely on furniture or hearth edges. A
|
| Association (JPMA). If you have an older
| |
| | corner and edge bumper usually costs
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| safety gate, be sure it doesn't have "V"
| |
| | $1.00 and up.
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| shapes that are large enough for a
| |
| | 8. Outlet covers and outlet plates - use
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| child's head and neck to fit into. A
| |
| | to help protect children from electrical
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| safety gate will cost from $13.00 to
| |
| | shock and possible electrocution. Be sure
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| $40.00
| |
| | the outlet protectors cannot be easily
|
| 3. Doorknob covers and door locks - use
| |
| | removed by children and are large enough
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| to help keep children away from places
| |
| | so that children cannot choke on them. An
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| with hazards, including swimming pools.
| |
| | outlet cover usually costs less than
|
| Be sure the doorknob cover is sturdy
| |
| | $2.00.
|
| enough not to break, but allows a door to
| |
| | 9. Carbon monoxide (CO) detector - use
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| be opened quickly by an adult in case of
| |
| | outside bedrooms to help prevent CO
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| emergency.
| |
| | poisoning. Install CO detectors near
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| By restricting access to potentially
| |
| | sleeping areas in your home. A carbon
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| hazardous rooms in the home, doorknob
| |
| | monoxide (CO) detector usually costs from
|
| covers could help prevent many kinds of
| |
| | $30.00 to $70.00.
|
| injuries. To prevent access to swimming
| |
| | 10. Cordless phone - use to make it
|
| pools, door locks should be placed high
| |
| | easier to continuously watch young
|
| out of reach of young children. Locks
| |
| | children, especially when they're in
|
| should be used in addition to fences and
| |
| | bathtubs, swimming pools, or other
|
| door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with
| |
| | potentially dangerous areas. A cordless
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| locks that must be re-secured after each
| |
| | phone costs $30.00 and up.
|
| use, are often not an effective barrier
| |
| | You don't need to spend a lot of money to
|
| to pools. A doorknob cover usually costs
| |
| | childproof your home. But you do need to
|
| about $1.00 and a door lock usually costs
| |
| | do it now.
|
