If we have kids at home, we shall strive to make it the safest place for them on earth. Child safety at home is not limited to taking a gas safety certificate c12, installing a smoke detector or fire extinguisher, and keeping a check on electrical appliances. It is more beyond it.
The guardians are responsible to take care of the young babies, but kids who understand things shall be educated about how to stay safe. We being parents shall teach our young children how to take safety precautions.
Following are the top ten safety measures at home that we shall teach our kids:
Teach Them About Their Body:
This is the first and most important safety measure that you can take to keep your children safe from sexual harassment. Children being sexually harassed by strangers is very common these days. It is important to let them know that no one is allowed to touch their bodies, not even in play.
Though many of us find it difficult or shameful to discuss this topic with our young kids, remember we have to teach them before someone else takes negative advantage of our negligence.
Teaching kids about their bodies will help them sense the negative intentions anyone has about them, and they will also not be misguided by the false information on the internet. Encourage them to share everything with you at the end of the day.
Teach Them Not To Trust A Stranger:
Encourage your child to socialize, but teach them not to trust a stranger. After the kids start going to school, parents are not there anymore. At this stage, it becomes important to teach your child to understand the “stranger danger” and how to keep themselves protected from someone they do not know.
Make Sure They Have Your Contact Details:
Make sure your child has all the contact information, especially of the parents to ring them immediately in case of an odd situation. The moment your child starts learning and memorizing things, memorize your cell numbers. Also, teach them how to operate a cell phone or a landline telephone.
Display the emergency contact numbers on the fridge or front door of the kitchen or your house and show them every day in the beginning and then once a week.
Make Them Memorize The Emergency Numbers:
Emergency numbers are not difficult to memorize. These are only four numbers, and it is easy for a little child to learn.
This home safety measure is not only beneficial for kids but also for the elders. At times. We are trapped in a bad situation and in case of an emergency and cannot contact anyone for help.
Do Not Leave Your Child Unattended:
Leaving your child unattended all the time not only makes your child feel lonely but also can be dangerous at times, especially if the child is a toddler or if they are in their teens. Though it is difficult, we have to manage it somehow.
If you are a working parent, you can install safety cameras in every room of the house, to keep an eye on what is happening in your absence. If you hire a nanny or a caretaker for them, make sure you have collected all her background information and checked her criminal records.
Do Not Open The Door To Strangers:
Teach it to your child from a very young age that if someone rings the doorbell, before opening it they shall ask who is outside. Explain to them why is important not to open the door for someone they do not know. Share with them the real-life incidents if possible and give them good reasons. Children at a young age learn if they are explained with interesting stories or logic.
Install Safety Devices:
Make your dwelling equipped with the necessary safety devices to protect your children. Install a smoke detector on every story of your home and inspect them once a month. You cannot forget about a Carbon monoxide detector because carbon monoxide is a deadly and silent gas.
Locks on doors, windows, and pool gates also aid in accident prevention. Besides, if both parents are working, they shall install CCTC cameras inside the house, to make sure sue their kids are safe.
Teach Them About A Fire Emergency:
In your home, teach your children about fire safety. Teach them how to use a fire extinguisher and how to call 911 in the event of a fire. Show them where your home’s fire escapes are. Make sure to teach your growing children to learn how to turn off the electricity and gas properly.
But don’t wait until there’s an emergency to teach them; instead, go through these steps with them so they’ll know what to do in an emergency.
Make And Share An Emergency Exit Plan:
Every home needs an emergency exit plan. It is critical to create an emergency plan for your family in case of an emergency, such as a fire or other natural disaster. This s exit plan shall include all the emergency numbers as well as a meeting place in case you have to evacuate your dwelling.
All Dangerous Items Shall Be Out Of Children’s Reach:
Children love to explore things, but you cannot take a risk. Keep dangerous objects out of children’s reach. Knives, sharp blades, scissors, detergents, and medications are examples of such items. Keep them in a secure location where your child cannot access them.
Take Away
If you or any of the family members is taking medicines, keep them locked in a bedside table drawer immediately. Un-attendant medicines are the primary products convoluted in poisoning, and young kids especially those under 5 years old are the most vulnerable age group. So, if you have young kids at home, you shall be vigilant.