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