Child Safety at Home

You want your children to feel safe and secure at home. By picking out dangers and solving them, you can help prevent your child from being hurt or killed in your home.

Childproofing your home

Making a child feel safe and secure at home is very important. Because “childproofing” can never be 100 percent effective, it’s important that you make every effort to watch your children at all times − especially around water, in the kitchen and bathroom, and wherever dangers exist.

You can reduce the potential for harm by exploring your home at the child’s level – by getting down on your hands and knees and moving around the room, every room, and asking yourself what looks tempting and what’s within reach (between the floor and about 40 inches above).

Also, check carpets for buried dangers like pins, coins or other things that a child could choke on.

When can I leave my children home alone and how can I teach to be safe?

Though laws vary from state to state, the minimum age requirement for unattended children is generally 12 or 13 years of age. Don’t forget, you’re responsible for the well-being of your children. Make sure you’re familiar with the law and your responsibilities as a parent.

If they're home alone, help them stay safe:

Post emergency numbers by all telephones:

• 911 for emergencies
• 1-800-222-1222 for the Poison Control Center
• Include the numbers for the pediatrician, police, fire department, emergency medical services and a neighbor
• Clearly post your home address so that parents, caregivers and children can easily tell emergency personnel how to locate the home

Keep first-aid supplies on hand

Establish house rules and make sure your child is comfortable with them. Some common guidelines:

• Don’t answer the door
• Let the answering machine pick up the phone
• No friends allowed in the house unless a parent is at home

Take a tour of your house and point out potential hazards to your child, such as electrical appliances and heating equipment. Discuss which appliances and electronic devices can and can’t be used when you’re not home (e.g., the microwave is OK, but the oven is not).

Make sure your child knows the location of the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Also, make sure they know your family’s fire escape plan. Remind them to get out of the house immediately if an alarm goes off, and to call the fire department from a neighbor’s phone.

Prepare a snack or meal for your child in advance, preferably one that does not need to be heated. If your child must use the stove or oven, remind him or her never to leave a pot unattended while cooking and to check that the stove, oven or burner is turned off when they finish.

If your child stays home alone after school, agree on a daily check-in procedure. Set a time when you’ll call home or your child will call you. Tell your child how to contact you and what time you’ll return home at day’s end.