10 measures to ensure the safety of children at home

Hits to the head, falls, poisoning caused by drugs, burns: did you know that half of the accidents involving children happen at home?

The safety of children at home is, contrary to what one might think, still very neglected. In general, we are very helpful less attention than necessary to the safety of children at home.

Despite these statistics, we are not suggesting that you turn your home into a dome. But we should seriously evaluate whether it is a safe house, trying to minimize the risks, without canceling its essence and habitability. Will it be possible?

Obviously! Can install accessories that make the house safe for children. But not only that. Here are the best Tips for promoting child safety. Let’s do it!

10 tips to make your home safe for children

Would you like to have a home where children’s safety is taken care of? These 10 tips for having a safe home it can be really useful.

1. Never leave children alone, even in a safe home!

As far as possible, Avoid leaving children alone in any room of the house. When they are little, vigilance is essential to make the home safe and avoid accidents. However, at certain moments, it is inevitable to be distracted for a few seconds, to check the food on the stove, answer the cell phone or open the door to receive an order.

To avoid accidents, remember this These are the situations where lack of supervision can play tricks on you and risk the safety of children:

• When children take a bath. It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown;
• A child sitting in an elevated positionwhether on a sofa or a dining chair, it is more than enough for a fall and a «bump»;
• When your child is restless, he wanders around the house aimlessly and distracted: this makes an accident probable;
• When a child eatsnever take your attention away.

👉 This content is useful: See guidance on routine consultation in the DGS Child and Young People’s Health Handbook.

2. Toys. They don’t always protect children’s safety!

Some toys can pose a choking hazard to children. Always make sure they have done so the European CE mark. This seal guarantees that they have passed all home child safety tests and do not pose any risk.

3. Limit children’s access to the kitchen

Unless you eat meals in the kitchen, this part of the house is too risky for little ones and access should be limited, even if your home is very safe.

It implies this replace gas and glass ceramic hobs with induction hobs. Thanks to heating via magnetic fields, the surface never heats up, so there is no risk of burns.

Do not carry hot liquids when children are playing or crawling on the floor. Make sure all handling is done on the bench.

Finally, so that the house is safe, Store sharp objects such as knives, scissors and graters in a place out of the reach of children.

✅ Tip! Some appliances, such as the oven, may be suitable for young children. To avoid accidents, purchase a oven protection for childrenwhich blocks the opening of the door and buttons, preventing accidental activation.

4. Monitor the use of gas heating, for safety

During the coldest days of the year many families use gas heating to combat the cold. It is an effective and economical solution, since the heat it emits is high.

Always keep children under supervision and prevent them from touching the metal surface of the applianceswhich can cause burns.

Whether due to a gas leak, an electrical device or lightning, fire is one of the most frequent domestic accidents in Portugal, no matter how safe your home is. Your possessions are also valuable. Therefore, protecting them means safeguarding their future. Do a simulation of our home insurance and discover the advantages.

👉 This content is useful: 9 things you should do in case of fire in your house

5. Lock all drawers and furniture doors in the house

Os child protection closures increase child safety by preventing children from opening drawers and furniture doors. The price of a package of 5 units varies between 4 and 10 euros. Make sure they are certified.

6. Secure the furniture to the floor

The safety of children at home can be compromised by large, unstable furniture. Securing furniture to the floor prevents it from falling on children.

7. Install security locks on doors and windows

The installation of security locks on doors and windowsprevents children from opening them without realizing it. It’s a simple system that doesn’t cause any discomfort to any adult, but keeps children away from the windowsill and door, making the home safe.

👉 This content is useful: Do you know how to protect your home?

8. Prevent children from hanging on curtains.

What about when children try to hold on to curtains? Tent rods are likely to loosen and fall on your head. To avoid accidents, buy curtains with a shorter length could be an option. If you don’t want to change the curtains, you can always buy a decorative cord to tie them. In this way, the tendency for such accidents to occur should decrease.

9. Install child safety barriers to limit passage through the house

This way you can limit access to areas where dangerous situations can occur. Make sure the distance between the bars does not exceed 7.5 centimetres.

Important! If you choose to put bars on your windows, never opt for metal bars. In the event of a fire, this solution compromises emergency access for firefighters! Choose certified fall protection nets.

10. Use surveillance cameras to secure your home

Do this at night, when they are playing in their room or if you leave the children with the grandparents. Parents can always be aware with child surveillance systems. Some models also have a built-in microphone, so you can communicate with your babies if they start to cry.

Domestic accidents: statistics in Portugal