How to childproof your home

Every year large numbers of children are injured, sometimes seriously in their homes, but there are measures that can be taken to prevent these injuries

Here are some childproofing steps to keep your children safe at home.

Childproofing in the kitchen

• Install safety latches on all cabinets and drawers to keep children from potentially poisonous household products.
• Use the cooker's back burners and turn saucepan handles toward the back of the cooker to keep hot pots and frying pans out of reach of children.
• Keep kitchenware and appliances out of reach and away from the edge of counters and tables.
• Put visual reminders on potential poisonous or hazardous items.

Childproofing in the bathroom

• Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers to keep children from potentially poisonous household products.
• Install toilet locks to keep toilet lids closed. Children are more top-heavy than adults and can lean and fall into a toilet easily. They also can drown in just one inch of water.
• Install anti-scalding devices on taps and showerheads to prevent burns. Also set the water heater thermostat to under 49C (120F). It takes just three seconds for a child to sustain a third-degree burn from water at 60C (140F).
• Unplug hair dryers and hair straighteners after use. Also keep them away from curious children to prevent burns.
• Cover unused electrical outlets with outlet protectors or safety caps. Consider having a residual current device fitted for whole house protection. For outlets in use, tape plugs into outlets, especially those low to the ground.

Childproofing around the house