Smart Safety - Parent Safety Survey and Tips

 Despite the fact that 80 percent of American parents consider childproofing very important, nearly 60 percent saw a child hurt at home in the last year. More than half of those injuries were viewed as preventable.

 

New research from more than 1,000 parents on which areas of the home were most and least dangerous also provides parents’ top-five childproofing recommendations for a blend of old-fashioned common sense, new-fangled technology, and statistical awareness.

 

Full details of the research conducted by SafeHome.org (https://www.safehome.org/) can be found at:

 

https://www.safehome.org/family-safety/home-childproofing-report

 

Other key findings:

 

- Parents of young children ranked the garage as the most dangerous room of the home, followed by the basement and kitchen

- 95 percent cited children’s bedrooms as a safe spot, although injuries from beds or bedding sent the second highest number of children to the emergency room (E.R.) last year

- Top-three childproofing measures are using safety gates around dangerous areas, locking cabinets and drawers, and installing outlet covers

- Nearly 60 percent of children 10 and younger have experienced a household injury, and 55 percent of them could have been prevented with better childproofing measures

- Many parents rely on smart home tech to protect their children, and ranked smart smoke detectors and baby monitors as the most effective devices for safety

 

Protect your family with these tips.

1. Installing safety gates: Curious children will explore everywhere possible once they gain mobility. Safety gates restricting unsafe areas can supply peace of mind when parents aren’t watching. Gates securing staircases were most often mentioned by parents, but blocking risky rooms, corralling kids in safe spaces, or fencing outdoor threats are all excellent uses. Ideally, choose gates anchored by hardware rather than gravity or tension, ensure they are correctly measured to block entry completely and don't choose a style with narrow openings where heads or limbs might get stuck.
2. Locking cabinets and drawers: With wee ones about, most drawers and cabinets should be locked so that only adults can open them. Cleaning products, household chemicals, and prescription drugs are apparent dangers to keep out of reach of children. Still, even innocuous everyday items (batteries, pens, or plastic bags) can become hazardous in the wrong hands. Cabinet fasteners come in different styles, including external safety locks, internal latches, or magnetic latches requiring special keys. Whichever you install, ensure they prevent little fingers from accessing (or getting pinched), and keep an eye on clever kids who may decipher the releases.
3. Installing outlet covers or plugs:Electrical outlets are placed conveniently for use but horribly for child security. Often found at floor level, a crawling youngster can insert an object and risk electrocution. Several safety options can help protect against such tragedies. Outlet plugs (plastic pieces to fill empty sockets) are the most straightforward solution but can be pried out and become a choking hazard. Better choices include sliding covers that automatically shield open sockets or boxes that enclose the entire outlet (including plugs). Additionally, some parents suggested tamper-proof outlets that kill power when not in use and prevent the insertion of foreign objects. Unplugging appliances from outlets when not in use is another helpful practice that prevents children from playing with cords, avoiding possible strangulation or toppling injuries.
4. Securing furniture, rugs, and appliances: Over 18,000 minors are injured each year by falling furniture or televisions. Children pulling on cords, running around rooms, or trying to climb cabinets can be crushed and pinned beneath these heavy objects. Anchoring furniture to the floor or wall with easy-to-install brackets can make a life-or-death difference. For dressers and storage pieces, place heavier contents in lower drawers to provide a better center of gravity. Always mount televisions higher on walls instead of resting them on consoles. Additionally, use two-sided tape or non-slip pads to keep area rugs securely on the floor, minimizing tripping risks.
5. Keeping dangerous items out of reach: Parents' simplest shortcut for keeping dangers at bay is using their height advantage. Gates, locks, anchors, and covers help secure hazardous items. Still, these dangerous items (especially when in use) should also rest well out of little ones' reach. Keeping knives, medicine, liquor, tiny items that present choking risks, cluttered handbags, or any other potentially harmful object away from reachable counters and up on high shelves provides an extra level of protection.