A Month-long Safety Check


Day 1-   Make a final commitment to take care of all of those odd little jobs that would make your home safer.

Day 2-   Get down on your hands and knees and crawl through your house. You are now seeing what your child sees on a regular basis. Is there anything that needs to be removed or altered in some way to make it safer?

Day 3-   Create a fire escape plan, if you do not already have one. Remember to include two exits for each room. Share it with every member of your family so that they know what to do in the event that a fire occurs.

Day 4-   Check all of your fire safety equipment, to see that it is all working properly. Make sure that all fire extinguishers and flashlights are strategically placed. Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Day 5-   Talk to your children about guns. Let them know that it is never a good idea to touch or play with guns, even if someone only wants to show them a gun. Tell them to leave and tell another adult immediately. If you own a gun, keep it in a separate place from the ammunition, and make sure that both are securely locked up.

Day 6-   Review your cooking habits. Are you using the back burners first and turning the pot handles to the back of the stove? Use the back burners for frying and boiling foods.

Day 7-   If you have an unused freezer or refrigerator stored in your garage or yard, have it removed. Be sure to store it with the door towards the wall until it's gone. Children can climb inside and suffocate.

Day 8-   Flush old/expired prescriptions and medications down the toilet. Be sure that medications are placed up high where little ones cannot get access to them, keeping in mind, that they can climb. Do not call medication "candy". Children are unable to distinguish the difference.

Day 9-   Quickly survey your yard, every time that your children go out to play. Is there any yard equipment that they have access to, such as lawnmowers, trimmers, etc.?

Day 10-   Check to make sure that electrical wall outlets are not overloaded, and that electrical cords are not worn or cracked. If they are, immediately remedy the situation.

Day 11-   Check the cords on your draperies and mini blinds. Make sure that they are tied up or cut off, as they have caused many strangulations among young children.

Day 12-   Check to see that the hot water heater is not set any higher than 120 degrees, a higher temperature could easily cause burn injuries.

Day 13-   Enroll yourself in a CPR and first aid class. This will be a valuable investment of your time.

Day 14-   Clean out your dryer vents. This will decrease the chances of a fire starting in the built up materials.

Day 15-   Make sure that your car seat is properly installed. (Center of back seat whenever possible- never in the front passenger side when there is an airbag.)

Day 16-   Check the condition and sturdiness of your child's toys. Discard any toys that have sharp edges or any that are broken or falling apart.

Day 17-   Have the radon levels in your home checked. This may prevent further complications down the road.

Day 18-   Install Outlet Covers, Outlet Plugs, and Plug Locks on all outlets and plugs that are not currently in use.

Day 19-   Install Window Locks on all windows. This will deter a would-be thief, and keep an inquisitive youngster from getting crushed fingers or escaping outside.

Day 20-   Secure area rugs with nonskid pads or with heavy pieces of furniture. Children can easily slip on an unsecured rug and bruise themselves.

Day 21-   Have your heating system checked and cleaned. This could minimize the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to your family.

Day 22-   Bolt bookshelves to the walls. This will prevent a climbing youngster from being crushed by a toppling unit of books.

Day 23-   Remove or tighten any knobs on furniture that a child could easily pull off and swallow.

Day 24-   Make a master list of your Credit Card numbers, expiration dates, and contact phone numbers. Store it in a safe place, in the event that your wallet or purse could be stolen.

Day 25-   Conduct a safety check on your vehicle. Make sure that everything is in good running order.

Day 26-   Post a list of emergency numbers by the phone.

Day 27-   Install safety gates at the top and bottom of all stairways, to prevent falls.

Day 28-   If you have a pool or hot tub, make sure that it is surrounded by a locking 5 foot fence or completely covered with a safety cover. Also, install alarms on all doors that lead from the house to the pool.

Day 29-   Check your children's clothing for loose buttons and remove any drawstrings. This will prevent the chance of choking or strangulation.

Day 30-   Lock all household chemicals safely away from children.

Day 31-   Go over this list with a friend. Make sure that she performs this safety check in her own house.