Safety in the Home
Submitted by: Kevin Chertkow

When you bring a new baby home, most families prepare their house for the new arrival.  As the child grows, safety measures are put into place, like locking cabinets and installing outlet covers.  However, many families don’t think about household safety as their kids get older.  Here are some things to think about.

Do you have an emergency plan in place for your children?  Do they know where to go if you have to get out of the house quickly?  Plan a location that is away from your house that can be a meeting place for all family members.  Make sure your children understand the circumstances in which they would leave the house and wait at your meeting place.

Do your children know what to do if there is a fire in your house?  Most parents figure that their children know to get out, but is it something that you have ever practiced?  You only have a few minutes when the fire breaks out before all the oxygen is gone from the air and you need to have everyone out before then.  Practice escape routes with your children.

If there is an emergency in the home, do your kids know who to call?  Do they know how to dial 9-1-1?  Can they tell their address to the operator on the phone?  It is a good idea to have emergency information posted above the phone in your house.  Write down the emergency numbers, and your address.  Even adults have forgotten their address in a crisis.

It would also be a good idea that everyone in your household knows how to use the fire extinguisher. Double check you have smoke detectors on every level of your home and the batteries are still good. It wouldn’t hurt to keep emergency supplies and prepare a disaster kit. Don’t forget about checking your First aid kit; is it fully stocked and everyone knows how to access it? It also wouldn’t hurt to have a battery-operated radio and flashlights with extra batteries.

When you have an emergency, it is too late to plan.  Make sure that you and your children have a plan in place to protect your family in an emergency.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.