Safety: Quick tips for childproofing your home

by Richard Powers 01/16/2022

From electrical hazards to furniture hazards, your home has several potentially harmful areas for members of your household of all ages. From the kids of the house accidentally taking a fall to a friend tripping over a cord, the following tips are simple ways to keep your home as safe and worry-free as possible, especially if there's a wee one at home.

Block stairways and unsafe areas

Younger kids can easily get hurt trying to climb or crawl up and down stairs. Kids can also end up being in danger when they're able to access potentially unsafe areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and fireplaces. Use baby gates to block stairways and other hazardous areas of your home.

Set up gates at the top and bottom of stairways to be safe or in doorways to block access to unsafe rooms or areas. Make sure your baby gates are securely in place, so they can't be tipped or pushed over.

Secure cabinets and drawers

Keep potentially dangerous items stored away in cabinets and drawers, but keep in mind kids might be able to access them. Place safety locks or latches on cabinets and drawers with hazardous items in them, such as medications, tools, knives and cleaning products. These locks and latches prevent kids from being able to open drawers and cabinets. Doing this helps reduce the risk of having kids accidentally ingest toxic substances or injure themselves with sharp objects.

Use outlet plugs or outlet covers

Electrical outlets can cause shocks if kids stick their fingers in the sockets. Put outlet plugs in each outlet throughout your home to reduce this risk. You can also get outlet covers to stop kids from being able to touch or play with electrical outlets at all. If you use plugs, make sure they're secure and can't easily be pulled or removed.

Anchor heavy furniture

Kids might try to climb on heavy pieces of furniture and accidentally cause them to fall over or running into them might make them tip on their own. Use fasteners or brackets to anchor these heavy pieces of furniture to prevent them from falling over and causing serious injuries.

About the Author
Author

Richard Powers

 Born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, Richard has been a successful Real Estate Agent, specializing in the Greater Lynn area for 28 years.  He was awarded the prestigious Centurion Award for 19 years in honor of his outstanding number of listings and sales and was the recipient of numerous Diamond Awards for exceptional sales and service.
In his spare time, Rich enjoys golfing, hiking with his dogs and practicing Karate, in which he holds a second-degree black belt.  He also enjoys volunteering for various animal rescue groups with his wife of 33 years and is especially dedicated to supporting Faithful Companions, a local non-profit group that helps families in need receive life saving veterinary treatment for their cherished pets.
The next time you need an experienced Real Estate Agent, be sure to give Rich a call.  His professionalism and knowledge of the Real Estate Industry are unrivaled.