Safety Concerns in the living room or dining room of a home:◦ Electrical cords, blinds & curtain cords

can cause tangling and strangulation.

◦ Electrical outlets can cause severe shocks if fingers or toys are stuck into them.

◦ Heavy furniture can tip over if a child pulls or climbs on it.

◦ Sharp edges on coffee & end tables can cause serious injury.

Keep electrical cords rolled up and out of reach of little fingers.

Electrical outlets, even those with cords plugged into them, should be covered so children can’t stick objects into them or unplug appliances.

Curtain & blind cords must be secured well out of a child’s reach. They are a strangulation hazard. Tucking them up inside the blinds isn’t enough – a child can shake the blind and the cord could fall down.

Place gates at the bottom and top of all staircases and in any areas the child should not have access to◦ Do not use pressure gates on stairways,

because if they are not hardware-mounted into the wall they may slip out of place.

Protect mobile children from falls against sharp-cornered furniture and fireplaces. ◦ Any type of soft material can be installed

over sharp corners. A blanket can help as well.

Secure heavy furniture to walls.

Bathroom Hazards: Consumer cleaning supplies, heath & beauty items & cosmetics, drowning◦ Keep all vitamins, medicines, and cosmetics out

of reach

Never leave a child alone in/near open water – including the tub!◦ Even if in a seat, the child could slip or crawl out

of the seat and fall into the water.

◦ If using a bath seat or ring, attach it only to a smooth surface. The suction cups won’t stick to textured or non-slip surfaces.

Use non-slip mats to prevent slipping

Use toys in the tub to keep your child busy and sitting down, and away from the faucet.

Keep the temperature of your water heater below 120° F to prevent burns.

Keep all sharp objects, such as razors and scissors, out of your child’s reach.

Unplug all electric items, such as hair dryers and radios.

Empty the tub after bath time is over.

Keep the floor and your child’s feet dry to prevent slipping.

If umbilical cord is attached, sponge bath!◦ Keep your baby’s umbilical cord dry.

Use warm, not hot, water. Place your elbow under the water to check temperature.

Have a towel ready to wrap your newborn in to dry and keep them warm right after the bath.

Bathe your baby every 3 days

Heavy furniture, closet doors, & cribs can pose hazards in bedrooms.

Safety tips:◦ Use safety locks on closet or room doors.

◦ Position cribs/beds and any other furniture away from windows. They can climb up, open windows, and possibly fall out.

◦ Keep electrical cords rolled up and out of reach

◦ Electrical outlets should be covered.

◦ Curtains/blind cords secured out of child’s reach.

The kitchen is probably the most dangerous room in the home.◦ Example: Consume cleaning

supplies, burned, trapped in refrigerator or dishwasher, cut by knives

Put safety locks on ALL CABINETS & DRAWERS within a child’s reach.

Keep all dish detergents, cleaners, and other cleaning supplies out of children’s reach or in a locked cabinet.

Keep phone numbers for poison control and emergency services in the area right next to the phone.

Secure refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and washer/dryer doors so children can’t pinch their fingers or crawl inside

Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.

Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat.

Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats.

Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the car seat fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.

Beware of used car seats, especially those over six years old◦ Unknown history: may have been in a crash, those that

show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.

Thick coats can be unsafe if used in a car seat.

For straps to function, they need to be tight against baby’s chest.

If the child were in a crash, they could be ejected from the car seat.

Children as young as 7 months old can pull themselves to a standing position, fall head first into a pail or toilet & drown.

All it takes for a child to drown is enough water to cover mouth and nose (1-2 inches).

Never leave any kind of bucket or pail open. Cover them tightly or place out of reach.