| About 2-1/2 million children are injured or | | | | SMOKE DETECTORS are essential safety devices |
| killed by hazards in the home each year. The | | | | for protection against fire deaths and |
| good news is that many of these incidents can | | | | injuries. |
| be prevented - by using simple child safety | | | | |
| devices on the market today. Any safety | | | | Check smoke detectors once a month to make |
| device you buy should be sturdy enough to | | | | sure they're working. If detectors are |
| prevent injury to your child, yet easy for | | | | battery-operated, change batteries at least |
| you to use. It's important to follow | | | | once a year or consider using 10-year |
| installation instructions carefully. In | | | | batteries. |
| addition, if you have older children in the | | | | |
| house, be sure they re-secure safety devices. | | | | WINDOW GUARDS and SAFETY NETTING for |
| Remember, too, that no device is completely | | | | balconies and decks can help prevent serious |
| childproof; determined youngsters have been | | | | falls. |
| known to disable them. | | | | |
| | | | Check these safety devices frequently to make |
| Here are some child safety devices that can | | | | sure they are secure and properly installed |
| help prevent many injuries to young children. | | | | and maintained. There should be no more than |
| | | | four inches between the bars of the window |
| SAFETY LATCHES and LOCKS on cabinets and | | | | guard. If you have window guards, be sure at |
| drawers can help prevent children from | | | | least one window in each room can be easily |
| gaining access to medicines and household | | | | used for escape in a fire. Window screens are |
| cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp | | | | not effective for preventing children from |
| objects. | | | | falling out of windows. |
| | | | |
| Look for safety latches and locks that adults | | | | CORNER and EDGE BUMPERS can be used with |
| can easily install and use, but are sturdy | | | | furniture and fireplace hearths to help |
| enough to withstand pulls and tugs from | | | | prevent injuries from falls or to soften |
| children. Safety latches are not a guarantee | | | | falls against sharp or rough edges. |
| of protection, but they can make it more | | | | |
| difficult for children to reach dangerous | | | | Be sure to look for bumpers that stay |
| substances. Even products with | | | | securely on furniture or hearth edges. |
| child-resistant packaging should he locked | | | | |
| away, out of reach; this packaging is not | | | | OUTLET COVERS and OUTLET PLATES can help |
| childproof. | | | | protect children from electrical shock and |
| | | | possible electrocution. |
| SAFETY GATES can help keep children away from | | | | |
| stairs or rooms that have hazards in them. | | | | Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be |
| | | | easily removed by children and are large |
| Look for safety gates that children cannot | | | | enough so that children cannot choke on them. |
| dislodge easily, but that adults can open and | | | | |
| close without difficulty. For the top of | | | | A CARBON MONOXIDE (C0) DETECTOR can help |
| stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more | | | | prevent CO poisoning. |
| secure than pressure gates." | | | | |
| | | | Consumers should install CO detectors near |
| New safety gates that meet safety standards | | | | sleeping areas in their homes. Households |
| display a certification seal from the | | | | that should use CO detectors include those |
| Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association | | | | with gas or oil heat or with attached |
| (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, he | | | | garages. |
| sure it doesn't have "V'' shapes that are | | | | |
| large enough for a child's head and neck to | | | | WINDOW BLIND CORD SAFETY TASSELS on |
| fit into. | | | | miniblinds and tension devices on vertical |
| | | | blinds and drapery cords can help prevent |
| DOOR KNOB COVERS and DOOR LOCKS can help keep | | | | deaths and injuries from strangulation in the |
| children away from places with hazards, | | | | loops of cords. |
| including swimming pools. | | | | |
| | | | For older miniblinds, cut the card loop, |
| Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough | | | | remove the buckle, and put safety tassels on |
| not to break, but allows a door to be opened | | | | each cord. Be sure that older vertical blinds |
| quickly by an adult in case of emergency. By | | | | and drapery cords have tension or tie-down |
| restricting access to potentially hazardous | | | | devices to hold the cords tight. When buying |
| rooms in the home, door knob covers could | | | | new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask |
| help prevent many kinds of injuries. To | | | | for safety features to prevent child |
| prevent access to swimming pools, door locks | | | | strangulation. |
| should be placed high out of reach of young | | | | |
| children. Locks should be used in addition to | | | | DOOR STOPS and DOOR HOLDERS on doors and door |
| fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, | | | | hinges can help prevent small fingers and |
| with locks that must be re-secured after each | | | | hands from being pinched or crushed in doors |
| use, are often not an effective barrier to | | | | and door hinges. |
| pools. | | | | |
| | | | Be sure any safety device for doors is easy |
| ANTI-SCALD DEVICES for regulating water | | | | to use and is not likely to break into small |
| temperature can help prevent burns. | | | | parts, which could be a choking hazard for |
| | | | young children. |
| Consider using anti-scald devices for faucets | | | | |
| and showerheads. A plumber may need to | | | | CORDLESS PHONES help you watch your child |
| install these. In addition, if you live in | | | | continuously, without leaving the vicinity to |
| your own home, set water heater temperature | | | | answer a phone call. Cordless phones are |
| to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent | | | | especially helpful when children are in or |
| burns from hot water. | | | | near water, whether it's the bathtub, the |
| | | | swimming pool, or the beach. |