Child Safety

	Most people think of their home as a fortress that will keep their children safe and sound. Unfortunately, there are many emergencies that are beyond our control. Just because a child is at home doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe. That’s why any safety plan has to begin in the home and be discussed with children so you can keep them safe whether you’re there or not.
	Working Families
	As a rule, children shouldn’t be left at home alone. But if you’ve decided your children are old enough to stay home alone, it’s a good idea to walk through a few key safety and security tips, including: Answering the phone: Never let the caller know that you are at home by yourself. Don’t give strangers your address or personal contact information. Give your child a list of people they can speak to. Think about installing an answering machine or caller ID unit so that calls can be screened, and tell your child they should only pick up the phone if it’s someone they know and are allowed to speak to. Keep a list of emergency contact names and numbers near the phone or program them into the phone for faster dialing. If you have a monitored alarm system, explain how it is to be used in an emergency.
	If Someone Tries To Break In
	Call 999 immediately. Call a neighbor or other nearby contact. Run through the door at the opposite end of the house and over to a neighbor’s home. In addition to these tips, it’s wise to find out as much as possible about who your child’s friends are and what activities they’re involved in. Also be aware if your child is having trouble at school or with friends. It’s also smart to write out a list of things for your child to do to keep them busy—and out of trouble—until you get home. If you’re going to be running late, let them know as soon as possible.
	Stranger Danger
	It’s important that your child clearly understands the difference between a friend and a stranger. Friends are people such as police, teachers or relatives. A stranger is someone they do not know. Teach your child to say “No” if they are ever approached by a stranger who asks them to go with them or offers them a gift. f someone ever makes them feel uncomfortable, tell your child they should let a “friend” know about it immediately. Don’t put your child’s name on anything such as their T-shirt, lunch box, school bag or anything else that may be visible and that would let a stranger call them by their name.
	Safety Walk
	A good way to help your child understand the difference between friends and strangers is to take them on a safety walk in your local area. Point out which areas are safe and which are dangerous. And show them where to go if they need help. If it’s possible, introduce them to some “friends” such as police, doctors, trusted storekeepers and your neighbors, and suggest places to go such as a police station or hospital if they ever find themselves in trouble. Remind your children that it’s important to always try to walk with friends and not wander off without telling anyone where they’re going or when they’ll be back. Source: ADT - Home Safety Tips

childproofing

When was the last time you crawled around your home on your hands and knees? As strange as it sounds, give it a go. Kids explore their everyday environments, so it's crucial to check things out from their perspective to make sure your home is safe.

And though we often think of babies and toddlers when we hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 years old and under, with more than a third of these injuries happening at home.

Household injuries are one of the top reasons kids under age 3 visit the ER, and nearly 70% of the children who die from unintentional injuries at home are 4 years old and under. Young kids have the highest risk of being injured at home because that's where they spend most of their time.

Supervision is the best way to prevent injuries, in the home and out, but even the most watchful parents can't keep kids completely out of harm's way every second of the day.

Here are some simple ways to help prevent injuries in your own home

Safety measures to childproof your home for every room:

• Install child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
• Keep dangerous chemicals out of children's reach. For strings and ribbons, follow the six-inch rule.
• Always use a safety belt on your baby when she is sitting in a bouncy seat or a swing.
• Shorten curtain and blind cords.
• Place furniture well away from windows.
• Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
• Place houseplants out of children's reach.
• Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
• Keep cigarettes, matches, and lighters out of children's reach.
• Safeguard heating and gas systems against accidents. Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and gas appliances are vented properly.
• Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
• Install carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning.
• Install smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your home.
• Remove the plastic end caps on doorstops or replace the stops with a one-piece design to prevent choking.
• Consider placing plastic guards along the hinge side of frequently used interior doors to prevent the doors from pinching fingers.
• Safety-proof windows and fire exits.
• Make a fire evacuation plan and practice fire escape routes at least twice a year.
• Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
• Secure unsteady furnishings.
• Avoid household water hazards.
• Test homes built before 1978 for lead paint.
• Learn first aid and CPR.

Child proof your kids' rooms:

• Position your child's crib away from all drapery, electrical cords, and windows. Make sure the crib meets national safety standards.
• Make sure the mattress fits snugly.
• Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
• If you use a crib bumper, make sure it's firm (not fluffy) and secured tightly with at least six ties.
• Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
• Place infants under one year on their backs to sleep.
• Never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child or infant.
• Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
• Always use a safety belt on your infant when you have her on a changing table, and never leave her unattended.
• Provide padding for falls.
• Check age labels for appropriate toys. Be vigilant about choking hazards.
• Use side railings for children just getting used to "big kid" beds. If bedrooms are on second or third stories, be sure to have a fire-escape ladder in each room.

Toys Safety

Here are some safety steps that consumers can take while shopping this holiday season:

• Balloons - Children can choke or suffocate on deflated or broken balloons. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than 8 years old. Discard broken balloons at once.
• Small balls and other toys with small parts - For children younger than age 3, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Scooters and other riding toys - Riding toys, skateboards, and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times, and they should be sized to fit.
• Magnets - For children under age 6, avoid building or play sets with small magnets. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings.
• Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any mechanism to prevent overcharging

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12042.html