3 Commonly Missed Safety Hazards in the Home

by Marjorie Wrenn, Safety Specialist for ChildProofAdvice.com If you're like most parents you think your home is safe for your child. However, unless you've done a thorough inspection, you're likely to find out that you are wrong. The tragic results of this faulty thinking can land your child in the emergency room or worse! 3 Commonly Missed Safety Hazards in the Home: 1. Do you know what the #1 Choking Hazard is for small children? It's the little rubber tip on the end of a door stop. Prevent this home accident by: Removing these rubber tipped door stops and immediately replace them with plastic one piece door stops. Those are easily found in hardware stores and do it yourself stores. 2. Did you know that a toddler can drown in only 1 inch of water? This is a fact and happens because toddlers are top heavy. They can fall head first into a bucket or a toilet and may not be able to get themselves out. A child's lungs can fill with water in as little as 3 seconds! Prevent this home accident by: NEVER keeping buckets around your yard or home that have ANY water in them. Always keep the bathroom door closed AND put a toilet lock on your toilet. Also, never leave your child alone near or in water. 3. Did you know that your hot water tap may be hot enough to give your child 3rd degree burns? The temperature of your hot water heater should not be over 120 degrees. At 140 degrees, three seconds will produce a third degree burn on your child. That's the most serious burn there is. Prevent this home accident by: Installing an anti-scald valve to reduce water flow if the temperature does go over 118 degrees. Some water heaters also have an adjustable thermostat that you can set to 120 degrees or less. These are just a few examples of home hazards that can put your children at risk for serious injury or worse. For additional information and to order your own do-it-yourself "Child Proofing Your Home" safety guide, see this website: childproofadvice.com. Brought to you by Child Proof Advice.