Your Safety: Safety for Kids
Mommy, what does this do?
Kids will be kids. They're curious about all sorts of things, and there's nothing more tempting than those items in the home that mom or dad uses or that they're told they should stay out of/away from. Curious minds need to understand. Teach your children well. It's not that you're trying to take their fun away; rather, you're ensuring that they'll have much more fun to come.
Safety tips, advice, and resources found in this section have been recommended by a number of reputable organizations devoted to child safety. You will find links to these and other safety-related organizations throughout this site.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
- It's OK to be a little old fashioned. Microwaves are dangerous. Many food items are not safe, even quick microwave soups that might have foil wrappers that spark. Cook for your kids from the stove instead.
- Wind it up. Prevent serious injury by wrapping up dangling extension cords.
- Don't cut corners. For homes with fuse boxes, never replace a blown fuse with a higher rated fuse, a penny, or an old fuse covered with aluminium foil.
- "Do it yourself" can spell disaster. If you are not 100 percent sure what you are doing, hire a professional for electrical repair.
- Unplug it. If you're not using something, disconnect it and put it away.
POISON PREVENTION
- Chemicals and kids don't mix. Keep all drugs, poisons, and household products safely locked away. Keep all medicine (including vitamins) securely locked in a medicine cabinet. Be especially careful while using these products, and remember to replace child-resistant caps after use.
- Poisons can crawl into your food. Keep all household cleaners away from your pantry and foodstuffs.
- Monkey see, monkey do. Don't take medication, prescribed or illicit, in front of your children.
- Find out first. Contact your paediatrician before giving any medicine to your child. Follow instructions.
- Flush it. Leftovers are OK when it comes to pizza, but not when it comes to medicine. Flush old medication down the toilet.
- Keep an eye on them. When visiting others, pay attention to your kids. Someone else's house may not be as child proof as your own.
- Be prepared for an emergency. Post the number to your Poison Control Centre by every phone. If poisoning occurs, take the poison with you to the hospital.
- Plants can be poisonous, too. That plant you are so proud of could kill kids if they ingest it. Know which plants are poisonous and which are non-toxic.
- Lead is deadly. Decorated china, water pipes, fishing tackle, fine crystal, and old comic books all contain lead. Here are some precautions:
- Check crystal and china, if they contain lead don't use for serving.
- If you live in an older home, check paint for lead.
- Test your water supply for lead content.
- Use cold water to make baby formula.
- Throw away old comics or properly store them.
- Properly dispose of old car batteries.
Common Household Poisons:
- Acids
- Aerosol Cans
- Ammonia
- Antiseptics
- Antifreeze
- Bleach
- Bubble Bath
- Batteries
- Charcoal Starter Fluid
- Colognes
- Cosmetics
- Dish Detergents
- Drain Cleaners
- Epoxy Glues
- Furniture Polish
- Garden Sprays
- Hair Dyes
- Iodine
- Insulation
- Jewellery Cleaner
- Kerosene
- Laundry Detergents
- Lye
- Metal Cleaners
- Nail Polish/Remover
- Oven Cleaner
- Paint
- Peroxides
- Pesticides/Herbicides
- Perfumes
- Petroleum Products
- Plant Food
- Shampoo
- Shaving Lotion
- Toilet-bowl Cleaner
- Turpentine
- Weed Killers
- Window Cleaner
- Wood Preservatives
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