Home Safety Center

Stairs

• Place secure gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use wall mounted (not pressure mounted) gates at the top of stairs.
• Falls are the leading cause of home injury, according to the Home Safety Council. Leave stairs uncluttered, install bright lights in stairwells (with on/off switches at the top and bottom of stairs), and have handrails on both sides of stairs and steps.

Windows

About 70 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries occur annually from window falls, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Open windows from the top, not the bottom.
• Lock all unopened windows.
• Install window guards and locks to prevent children from falling out of open windows. Do not install guards on a window that is a fire exit.
• Don’t rely on screens to protect children from falls.
• Keep furniture away from windows so small children are not tempted to climb up to the sill.
Also, the Window Covering Safety Council warns parents on the potential strangulation hazards of looped window cords. They advise parents to eliminate loops on two-corded horizontal blinds.

In the Yard

• Do not allow your child to sit on a riding mower alone or in your lap while you are operating the riding mower. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 12 should not operate walk-behind mowers, and children under 14 should not operate ride-on mowers.
• Do not use power weed trimmers and edge clippers when children are around. Keep children inside and under adult supervision whenever lawn work is in progress.
• Teach children not to taste outdoor plants – especially berries, wild mushrooms, roots or leaves. Plants are the leading cause of poisonings in children under age 1.
• Keep a list of the chemicals and pesticides used on the lawn, and know the names of plants in the house and yard for reference if a poisoning occurs.
• Keep insect sprays, weed killers, fertilizers and pesticides locked up and out of the hands of small children. If a lawn has been chemically treated, make sure it is fully dry before allowing a child to play on it.
• During the summer grilling season, be sure to keep lighter fluid and matches out of children’s reach, and watch children at all times around a hot grill.
• Ourdoor play can increase risk of lead poisoning.
• If you have a pool, use an approved fence or locking gate around it. Make sure your children always swim with a grownup or with constant adult supervision.