Child Proofing your New Home

Household injuries are one of the top reasons kids visit the emergency department. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last year an estimated 9.2 million children visited the ER for an unintentional injury. And, on average, 12, 175 children under the age of 19 die each year from unintentional injuries.

New parents often spend a lot of time “baby proofing” their homes. But just as you do for babies, it is also a good idea to safety proof your home for older children. Here are some tips to help prevent accidental injuries at home:

- Keep guns, choking hazards and sharp objects locked and out of reach of children
- Use safety gates on stairwells, at both the top and bottom of the stairs
- Use barriers and other recommended pool safety devices
- Place outlet covers over all live outlets
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Never leave young children unsupervised in the bathtub
- Install safety locks on cabinets with sharp objects, such as knives and scissors
- Keep all household cleaners locked and away from children to prevent accidental ingestion
- Do not put soft bedding or toys in cribs as children might choke
- Install locking latches on all appliances such as ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators
- Place covers over stove burners
- Buy cord bundlers and secure cords to furniture so they cannot be pulled
- Make sure electrical cords are in good condition
- Use toilet lid locks or keep bathroom doors closed

To learn more about injury and injury prevention, talk to your local pediatrician. If you have health questions, contact the Sunrise Children’s Hospital Consult-A-Nurse line at 702-233-KIDS (5437).