Senior Home Safety
Guide To Senior Home Safety
How do I safety-proof a home/apartment for a child above 5?
Question by SuperMom1306: How do I safety-proof a home/apartment for a child above 5?
I am putting together a school report (Master’s level). I need the communities thoughts on dangers in the home that children 5 and above face. Mom’s, Dad’s, Aunt’s, Uncle’s, Friends, please fee free to respond. The best answer will be voted in 3 days. Thanks so very much!! Smiles….
Best answer:
Answer by Xuligan Whit
Obviously household cleaning supplies, other toxic and hazardous materials.
Knives, and scissors, curling irons along with anything else that may heat up or be sharp enough to puncture the child. Candles should be up high when lit or not left in a room with a child unattended. Same with lighters and matches.
Open windows, balconies.
Keeping weapons and any firearms in a locked safe.
On a totally seperate note, mentally damaging items like anything meant for adults with adult material inside should be put away where the child would not find it. ie movies, photos, magazines. Getting some type of block on your computer to keep the child from anything dangerous or innapropriate. Channel blocks on the television.
And simply educating your child on why these things are bad and not for children.
What do you think? Answer below!
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Tags: above, child, home/apartment, safetyproof
All of the above answerers ideas as well as;
Swimming pools and hot tubs need fences and locking covers.
Baths should always be supervised
Teach children what the different danger symbols on chemicals look like and what they mean
Deadbolts on entrances for possible sleepwalkers
Locks on bedroom windows
Trampolines are a huge source of injuries in children, even with the safety net
Prescription and over the counter drugs can look like candy, and some taste like fruit syrup, so must be up high like the alcohol.
Electricity rules need to be explained (no forks in the outlets please) not just don’t do it, but why it’s dangerous. Even small children can picture a bolt of lightning if it’s used incorrectly.
Many people store bathroom cleaners in the bathroom, all cleaners should be stored in one place up high.
Rules about household pets need to be established to avoid danger to the animal and child.
Rules about leaving the house only with an adult, or asking permission from an adult are very important as well.
Cabinets, bookcases, and entertainment units look like ladders when you are 5 and want the video or book on the top shelf. Children are injured or killed when one tips over onto them as they climb. They should be bolted to the wall.
Electrical cords should be wrapped up into a cord turtle (a rubber casing that slides over a coiled cord) or twisted up and elastic banded behind furniture.
Okay, I’m sure there’s more, but I need to go do that really important safeguard thing now; supervise!
I have 5 children,ages 12,8,6,4 and 3.Here is how I safety-proof my home (I’m the only parent,their father left some time ago) for them.I work and they are usually alone at home,especially if the 12yo is somewhere with her friends and the younger brothers and sisters are alone.So,I have to be sure everything is OK.The main is that you can’t safety-proof your house enough for even the smartest child.so,you have to teach them how to take care of themselves if something happens and how to avoid something happening.
- The bathroom is never being locked but also nobody uninvited doesn’t enter while anyone is there
- All the children have been taught how to work with computer and TV,so they don’t mess it up
- The electric appliances are being kept away from wall-plugs after usage.That is required from my children too,if they are washing their clothes or iron them
- The food I leave them for lunch has to be only warmed up,even the 4yo knows how to do it.they have a timer,so they don’t forget to take the food away from the oven when ready.they all know how to make sandwiches,so they eat if the 12yo or the 8yo aren’t there to help with warmng the lunch or if there is no electricity
- When I go to work,I lock the door – whe they go out,they lock the house door too.The 12yo,8yo and 6yo have keys from the home door.The other don’t need them yet.
- The 12yo and 8yo have their own cellphones and all the others have these phones which select certain numbers.They also have a list of important numbers and know what to do in case of fire or an earthquake and anything like that.
- They know why and in which cases they shouldn’t answer the home-door
All above are very good. But ‘safe proofing’ a home should start with the parents when the child is born. TEACH your child to respect anything that isn’t theirs and to LEAVE it alone. TEACH them to listen when you say ‘no’. We know better, we have been around longer and sometimes ‘no’ is just ‘no’. As they get older I don’t mind explaining myself but not all the time.
Mom and dad had medicines, guns, electrical switches, pools, cleaning supplies, dryer/washer, bookcases, collectibles etc…and you KNEW to keep your hands off stuff that wasn’t yours.
The first and foremost item of consideration is proper supervision of a child. Secondly I would say proper education of the child of the dangers and what the resulting effects can be.
Since this question is on its 2nd day I would think you have much of your information needed. But babycenter.com has a great article on that question.
As for future reports you may think about doing one on Le ann the one that answered above. OMG she has issues. I just was reading here answers and questions so I could best answer he last question…..Let me just say you would have many things to write about. ( leaving children under 12 alone all day to care for themselves…sheash)