Child Safety Basics

You took care of the first child safety basics. You carefully installed the cabinet locks and outlet covers when your child was a baby. You gated the stairs and kept small objects, matches, cleaners and medications out of reach. Good job.

Now that your child is older, it's time to focus on safety measures appropriate for the 4-11 age range. What do you need to do to keep your young child safe? Here are a few pointers for child safety in the home.

Dangerous Items
Children are more adept at reaching, climbing and finding ways to get what they want than babies. They know how to stand on chairs or shelves, and they are curious and motivated. One thing that needs to be done to ensure that these explorers are safe is to lock medications, vitamins, cleaning products, matches and lighters in a cabinet. There are safety devices available that will allow you to lock cabinets safely. Certainly teach your children not to play with or touch these items, but don't rely on children to always follow your instructions.

If there are firearms in the house, always, without exception, keep unloaded firearms locked away from the ammunition. Lock ammunition in a separate, secret place. Do not allow your child to see or play with these items, even with your supervision. Accidental death from overdose, poisoning, fire and weapon discharge could all be avoided if these important guidelines are followed. Have syrup of ipecac and the poison control center phone number always available, just in case. Remember to call poison control before you induce vomiting, as sometimes this can make things worse.

Knives and Sharp Utensils
Teach your child not to use sharp knives or utensils. Growing children may want to learn how to cut their own food. Instruct them in knife safety, and allow them to use a butter knife for cutting fruit or other foods. Always supervise knife usage and be sure your child understands kitchen safety rules. In addition, always be sure knives are stored with the point away or down. Do not put knives in a dish drainer with the handle down and blade up. A child running through the kitchen could bump against the knife blade and get hurt.

Kitchen Safety
When cooking, always turn handles inward, over the top of the stove, to keep hot liquids from spilling. Keep towels, paper and oil away from cooking flames or pilot lights on top of stoves. Set your water heaters at or below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding.

Home Fire Safety
In addition to locking away matches and lighters, home fire safety includes having smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on each floor of the house. Teach children what to do in the event of a fire. Make sure they know to "get low and go" to avoid smoke. Remind them not to open the door if the doorknob is hot and to use a towel or other piece of cloth to keep smoke out of the room.

Have an escape plan for the second floor and a designated meeting place if you need to evacuate the house. Consider purchasing a retractable ladder for going out a window. Teach the kids how to open a window and get out safely. Practice fire drills a few times a year so that you're confident that everyone knows what to do. Teach kids how to call 9-1-1 when necessary.

Phone and Visitor Safety
Teach children how to politely answer the phone. Be sure they know about not giving out personal information to strangers on the phone, such as their address, age or what you are doing if you are not near the phone.

Set a policy about answering the door. Some parents won't let kids answer the door for anyone if they're home alone. If you do let your kids answer the door, teach them how to find out who it is and to keep the safety chain in place. Let kids know if you're expecting deliveries or visits from landscapers or contractors. If there's an unexpected stranger at the door, have kids tell the person that you're in the bathroom and to come back later.

Internet Safety
If children are allowed to use the computer, be sure that safety software is installed to prevent them from accessing inappropriate Web sites or chatting. Keep the computer in a public area of the house and supervise online activities. You may want additional security software that provides a history of Web site visits and e-mail use. If your preteen has a personal Web page or blog, be sure to check it regularly for inappropriate content of any kind. Always know where your child goes online to keep them safe from internet predators or phishing. Remind kids never to give out personal information, such as their ages, names or addresses. Even revealing the town where they live can be enough for a predator to find them.

Neighborhood Safety
Always know where your children are going and set a time for them to come home. If they're riding bicycles, be sure they have a helmet, reflectors and other needed safety equipment and remind them to walk, not ride, their bicycles across the street.

Take the time to get to know your neighbors. If kids constantly play at a neighbor's house, make sure that the yard is safe and check play equipment for proper maintenance.

Be aware of hazardous places that kids might find attractive, including abandoned buildings or houses, empty swimming pools, ponds and creeks or caves and mines. Tell your children that they are never to explore these places, and give them reasons why. Explain the potential dangers to them, and remind them that if someone falls or gets hurt, they may not be able to get help from adults in time, if at all.