Each year in Canada, thousands of children are injured because of unsafe conditions at home or hazardous household items or substances.  Tragically, some children die as a result.  Children’s curiosities are often the reason why they end up in unsafe situations.  While parents, grandparents, and other adult relatives cannot limit children’s curious natures, they can ensure that their homes are kids-safe.

Toys

There are risks associated with many toys.  The following guidelines will help protect your children:

• Buy toys that are age-appropriate, as indicated on the packaging.
• Follow all the toy’s instructions for assembly (if applicable) and use.
• Toys with small parts must be kept away from children under three years of age because of the choking hazard.
• Repair or throw away broken toys, and discard broken toys with sharp edges.
• Keep soft, cuddly toy animals, dolls, and other plush toys away from sources of heat and flame.
• Always blow up balloons for younger children and supervise them as they play (deaths have occurred due to small children choking on deflated balloons or pieces of popped balloons).
• Ensure that the batteries in toys are in good condition and securely installed.
• Mixing different types of batteries (e.g., non-rechargeable with rechargeable, carbon with alkaline) can be dangerous.
• Do not allow a child to take a battery-operated toy to bed.
• Make sure that the lid of your child’s toy box is lightweight and cannot be locked without an adult present.  Heavy toy box lids have fallen on children’s heads and necks, and children have suffocated inside toy boxes with lids that were too heavy to open or were effectively locked by an automatic latching mechanism.
• Ensure that your child’s toy box has quality hinges that are well secured to the box. 

Equipment

Many children are curious about household appliances, machinery, and other equipment used by their parents.  Kitchen blenders, vacuum cleaners, power drills, and other pieces of equipment pose hazards to children and should be kept away from them when not in use.  Appliance power cords should be placed back from edges of counters.  Unplug appliances and machinery when you’re finished using them, and if you’re not going to use them for a while, lock them away or put them on a high shelf where children cannot reach them.

Older children may be taught to use certain pieces of equipment.  Parents should consult the user’s manual or contact the manufacturer to determine the recommended minimum age for using an item.  If your child is old enough and is sufficiently mature to use equipment responsibly, you may want to provide instruction to them.  Just like adults, children should wear protective gear when operating machines (e.g., safety glasses when using a power drill).  

A potentially lethal hazard in some Canadian households is a firearm.  Children have accidentally shot and killed people, or killed or wounded themselves because they got access to a gun in the house.  Canadian law requires that firearms be properly stored (i.e., never with ammunition in the gun), and ammunition should be kept in a strong, locked location that children cannot access.
 
Chemicals
 
Children accidentally poison or injure themselves by consuming hazardous household chemicals.  Such tragedies are avoidable by placing products containing chemicals labeled as poisonous, corrosive, etc. in a location inaccessible to children.  Put the phone number of the local poison control centre on your fridge or by your phone in the event that you need to call in a hurry.  Educate your children about the hazards of poisonous and corrosive household products, and supervise your older children when they use chemicals around the home.  
 
Burns and Fire Preparedness
 
Severe injury or death resulting from burns and scalds happen to many Canadian children each year.  Keep matches, lighters, etc. away from children in a locked or otherwise secure place.  Turn the handles of pots, fry pans, and other cooking containers toward the center of the stove.  Make sure that electrical cords are not hanging over the counter edge.  Place the cookie jar away from the stove.  Make sure that children do not get too close to radiators, baseboard heaters, hot stove elements, and irons.  For a child’s bath, turn on the cold water first, then slowly add hot water until the water is at a temperature comfortable to your child.  Do not hold or carry a child while drinking a hot beverage.

Barbeques and campfires can be a lot of fun for children, and adults need to demonstrate that safety always comes first.  Never leave younger children alone by a BBQ or campfire.  Explain to your children how easy it is for a fire to get out of control, and have dirt or sand ready to extinguish the flames.  Use lighter fluid and matches carefully.  Make sure that campfires are completely extinguished.  Teach your children by word and example that barbeques and campfires must be used responsibly. 

Make sure that there are an adequate number of smoke detectors in your home, regularly check the batteries, and conduct a simulated fire escape at least once a year as a family.  Instruct your children on how to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.  Contact your local fire department for more information about how to protect your family and your home.   
 
Kids Are Worth It
 
An important part of a happy childhood is feeling that home is a safe place.  Parents, grandparents, and other adult relatives need to ensure that safety hazards in their homes are eliminated, as appropriate for the age of the children who live with them or visit them.  Ensuring that your home is safe for the children in your life is a very worthwhile investment in the next generation.