Child Proofing your
Home According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the accidents at home most often
happen where there is: Baby-and childproofing is crucial
inside and outside the home, but these things are not
foolproof. The bottom line is that all young children need
to be properly supervised by an adult or other capable
caretaker. The North Dakota Department of Health recommends
review of the Home Safety Checklist. If you are expecting a baby, you
should do the following things before the baby is born:
learn CPR -- cardiopulmonary resuscitation; learn the
Heimlich Maneuver, in the event that your child is choking;
buy syrup of ipecac accessible in case of poisoning (use it
only when and as directed by Poison Control or your doctor);
learn the poison control numbers; and install a fire
detector. Kitchen Yes No N/A Question 1. Are knives,
scissors, and other sharp objects kept out of the
child’s reach or in a cabinet or drawer with a
safety latch or lock? 2. Are vitamins and
medicines stored out of a child’s reach or in
a cabinet with a safety latch or lock? 3. Are cleaning
supplies stored separately and out of a
child’s reach or in a cabinet with safety
latch or lock? (Aerosol cans and other flammable
products need to be stored in a low and latched
cabinet, away from the stove and other heat
sources). 4. Are food treats
stored away from the stove? 5. Are coffee, hot
liquids, and hot foods placed out of a child’s
reach? SAFE=not in the hands of an adult holding a
child, not at the edge of a counter or table, and
not on a tablecloth which could be pulled
down) 6. Are small
appliances unplugged and put away when not in
use? 7. Are back burners
used for cooking with pot handles turned toward the
back? 8. Are children
kept away from the microwave when food is being
heated and is food tested before feeding?
(Don’t use the microwave to heat baby
bottles -- uneven heating can cause varying
temperatures). Bath 9. Are medicines
and vitamins stored out of a child’s reach or
in a cabinet with a safety latch or
lock? 10. Are electrical
appliances (radio, hair dryer, space heater) used
away from water and out of a child’s reach and
unplugged after each use? 11. Is a child in a
bathtub always watched by an adult? (Children can
drown in a few inches of water or be burned by
turning on the hot water). 12. Does the
bathtub or shower have non-skid mat or strips on
the standing area? 13. Is the hot
water adjusted to 120-125 degrees F or less to
prevent tap water scalds? (Let the water fun 3-5
minutes before testing it). Your water temperature
is degrees F. Child
Area 14. Do windows have
screens that are secure or window guards to keep a
child from falling out? 15. Are toys free
from loose parts, sharp edges, or points and long
cords? 16. Are toddler
gates used at the top and bottom of stairs
(Accordion type gates should not be used; they can
cause strangulation and death) 17. Does the crib
mattress fit snugly? A loose fitting mattress can
trap an infant’s head or cause limb injuries.
SAFE=no more than two fingers’ distance
between mattress and crib railings. 18. Are crib slats
no more than 2 2/3 inches apart? 19. Are crib gyms
and mobiles removed from cribs of children who are
four months or older? 20. Does the toy
chest have either a lightweight lid, no lid or a
slow-closing lid? Can air get in? General
Safety 21. Are there at
least two ways to get out of your house or
apartment in case of fire or other
emergency? 22. Are electrical
cords in safe condition? SAFE=not frayed, spliced
or overloaded 23. Are plants,
chemicals, medicines, and alcohol placed out of a
child’s reach? (some plants are
poisonous) 24. Are all space
heaters UL approved, in safe condition, and away
from children? SAFE=stable, with protective
covering, and at least 36" away from curtains,
papers, and furniture. 25. Are electrical
cords beyond a child’s reach? SAFE=placed
along walls and behind furniture, not under
rugs. 26. Is your wood
burning stove in safe condition and away from
children? SAFE=stove, stovepipe and chimney
inspected yearly and protective screen in
place. 27. Are stairs,
walls, railings, porches, and balconies
sturdy? 28. Are halls and
stairways free of objects to prevent falls and is
lighting good? 29. Is your house
or apartment free of any chipping or peeling paint?
(Children can be poisoned by lead paint which was
in common use in past decades) 30. Is your
basement door latched so that children cannot open
it? 31. Are garage
entrances locked so that children cannot
enter? 32. Are rifles and
other guns stored unloaded in a locked
cabinet? 33. Is ammunition
stored separately from rifles and other
guns? Outdoor
Area 34. Are stairs,
walkways and yard clear of objects that could cause
injury? 35. Is there good
lighting at doors and on steps? 36. Are poisonous
materials and flammables stored in original
containers and out of children’s
reach? 37. Is play
equipment anchored and free from breaks, loose
parts, rust, and splinters? 38. Are
pools
on your property or in your neighborhood protected
from use by unsupervised children? SAFE=latched
gates and fences at least 4 feet high. Splash pools
should be empty when not in use. Safety
Supplies 39. Do you have a
working smoke detector properly placed?
SAFE=detectors placed on the ceiling no closer than
4" from the sidewall, or on a wall between 4 to 12
inches below ceiling and in hallways outside of
sleeping areas. Detectors should be tested monthly
and batteries changed yearly. 40. Do you have
Syrup of Ipecac in your home in case of poisoning?
(Administer only as directed by your doctor or
poison control professional). 41. Do you have
safety latches on cabinets and drawers that contain
dangerous items such as cleaning supplies, matches,
knives, medicines, tools, and alcohol? 42. Do you have a
working fire extinguisher mounted on the wall? Do
adults and older children in the household know how
to use it? 43. Are there
flashlights in good working condition in your
home? 44. Do you have
shock prevention plugs or covers on unused
electrical outlets? 45. Do you have 911
stickers and poison number stickers near your
telephones? Safety
Practices 46. Have you
developed and practiced a fire escape plan in your
home? SAFE=making a plan with two ways out of every
bedroom, practicing it at night, and choosing an
outside meeting place. 47. Do you close
bedroom doors at night for sleeping? 48. Do you smoke
safely? SAFE=disposing of cigarette butts in a
large, deep ashtray; dumping ashes only when cold
or in the toilet; not smoking in bed; not smoking
when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or
medication. 49. Are you aware
of the negative health impact of
second
hand smoke
on your children? 50. Do you always
keep matches and lighters away from your
children’s reach? 51. Do children
over the age of three know how to "stop, drop, and
roll" if their clothes catch fire? 52. If your house
has peeling paint, have children in your home been
tested for lead poisoning within the last six
months? 53. Do you use a
seatbelt and are your children secured in an age
appropriate car
seat when
riding in the car? 54. Do you check
your garage door opening to be sure it reverses the
door once a month? 55. Do you always
keep your hand on your infant when he or she is on
a high surface like a bed or changing
table? 56. Do you keep
your purse out of reach of your child? (Medicines,
hair spray, or small items could poison or choke
your child. 57. Do you keep
small items that can choke a child out of his or
her reach? 58. Do you know how
and when to call the Poison Center and
911? COMMON
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