Home Safety Advice

Use the Home Safety Checklists for Your Kitchen And Bathroom

Home Safety Checklist for the Kitchen

• Fit a guard on the stove top. Always turn the handles of pots away from the edge.
• Keep the floor clear to avoid tripping and wipe up and spills immediately.
• Keep benches clear. When preparing food always put knives to the back of the bench away from little fingers.
• Windows and glass doors should be fitted with toughened safety glass or at least coated in safety film.
• Fit all drawers and doors with childproof latches. Once you are used to them they won’t slow you down too much and the peace of mind they bring is a real plus. Don’t forget the dishwasher.
• Avoid using table cloths. Crawling and toddling children can easily pull them and whatever else is on the table down on top of them.
• Keep your child out of the kitchen if possible while you cook. Fit a gate to the kitchen door and set up your child on the other side with toys so you can chat and sing to one another. If you can’t block off the kitchen use a playpen or high chair for very young children; and have a special corner with toys out of the way for older children.
• Have a fire safety blanket next to the stove in case of fire. Don’t use the stove top as bench space – a forgotten cutting board is a fire hazard as are tea towels hanging over the stove.
• Remember some foodstuffs can be extremely dangerous for children. Keep them out of reach and pantries secured. For example, the juice from chillies can burn and blister skin, not to mention damage eyes. Heavy tins can break bones if pulled down from a shelf.
• Store all kitchen cleaners and chemicals out of reach.
• Store plastic bags well out of reach of children. Get into the habit of tying them into a knot as you put them away. It helps to keep them tidy as well as making it harder for children to slip them over their head.

Home Safety Checklist For The Bathroom

• Medicines, cosmetics, razor blades, and perfumes all need to be kept out of reach.
• Keep a bath water thermometer in the bath to easily check water temperature. Always double check with your hands.
• Never leave a child alone in the bath, even for a moment.
• Teach your child to swim. Water safety applies to baths just as much as pools and the beach.
• Use a non-slip mat in the bath or shower and have a non-slip rug or mat for the floor as well. Enforce a rule of no jumping in the bath and no running in the bathroom.
• Keep the lid to the toilet down.
• Heaters should be fixed high on the wall out of reach.
• Hot towel rails should always be covered by towels. As with any hot surface, teach your child that they are hot and not to be touched. If you can, turn them off until your child is old enough to be trusted with them.

More Home Safety:

• General Home Safety Checklist
• Check the Living Rooms and the Bedrooms
• Check the Hallways, the Foyer, and the Back Yard
• Keep safe rules and some tips on having FUN!

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