Five Essential Steps For Child Safety Around the House

When you have young children in the house and are mapping out a home security plan for your family, you have to think well beyond your home alarm system. While a home alarm will keep your property on alert for trespassers, there are many other dangers around the house which threaten your children on a regular basis. Here are five essential steps to take to make your child's safety a top priority.
1. Identify the spots where trips and falls are a real possibility. For young children, put up guards at the top of stairs. Always keep staircases clutter-free and teach your kids to do the same. Remember that children love to climb, so keep beds and bookcases away from windows. For that matter, make sure windows are not capable of being opened by a youngster who doesn't know the danger that awaits. If you have a swing set in your yard, set up a soft landing spot if your child should fall.
2. Keep your children safe from burns. Never allow young children to be in the kitchen unsupervised, especially when you are cooking. If you are in the habit of pan-frying, know that hot oil can burn a child severely in an accident, so keep young ones away from the stove and heated oven. As your children grow older, watch over them until they are ready to handle cooking on their own. Also, if you are enjoying a hot coffee or tea, don't be careless around children, especially if you are holding a baby.
3. Control access to any poisonous substances. In the kitchen, where cleaning products are often left close to food products, keep chemicals well out of reach in a high cabinet. In the bathroom, medicine should be inaccessible and only be bought with child-proof packaging. For heavy duty products around the garage, like anti-freeze or gasoline, use a storage shed with a lock to discourage any experiments with these dangerous products. Remember that some toxins, like carbon monoxide, cannot be identified without a detector. Coordinate a carbon monoxide sensor with your home alarm system.
4. Be aware of fire hazards around the home. If there is a smoker in the house, make sure matches or lighters are not left lying around. Children can see these items as play things. Tell your kids not to leave toys around a heater or in the kitchen, where they can catch fire easily. Make sure the stove and oven are off-limits, as well as electrical sockets.
5. Keep weapons out of sight and under lock and key. If there is a firearm in the house, make sure your children will never have a chance to get to it. For household items that can be menacing, such as scissors or kitchen knives, leave them in drawers your children will not be able to reach.
Your home security plan is never complete without these child-proofing steps. Protect your children and your whole family with an ADT home alarm system. Featuring state-of-the-art technology and new carbon monoxide detectors, an ADT home alarm system is the greatest gift you can give your family.
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