Accidents in home pose great threat to children MANY QUALITIES that lead children to learn about their world — curiosity, impulsiveness, creativity — also can lead to dangerous situations. Accidents, not disease, pose the greatest threat to a child’s health. In the home, the kitchen and bathroom harbor the greatest dangers for babies and small children. In the kitchen Safety precautions are needid in ~ the kitchen because of the large and small appliances, drawers, cabinets and wall outlets in the room. To safeguard against burns, children should be kept away + from the stove and never allowed to lean or climb on it. Little children can be burned seriously ‘by falling against a hot oven sur- face, reaching up to touch a - burner, or reaching for the handle of a pan. When cooking, it is wise to confine a young child to a playpen or highchair, away from the stove - area. Pot handles always should be - turned to the back of the stove. ‘This prevents their accidentally being pulled off the stove top. When only one or two burners are needed, use those at the back of the stove. ; To discourage climbing, don’t store commonly asked-for foods such as crackers, cookies and ce- real over the stove. Appliance latches are available for ovens, refrigerators, washers and dryers. Their use is recom- mended to protect curious children from finger and hand in-" juries. Drawers for storing sharp uten- sils should be secured with ’ specially-designed latches ‘which make entry especially difficult for young children, Drawer latches also eliminate the possibility of a . young child opening drawers to form a “ladder”? to reach upper cupboards. Floor-level cabinets and cup- boards used for storing cleaning agents, aerosols, insect sprays and other poisonous sprays, should be outfitted with cabinet locks. Storing only food items in food cabinets will help prevent poison- ing. However, it is well to remember that some seemingly innocent food items like vanilla extract are toxic in large amounts. Small kitchen appliances such as Chalet aay 988-2324 1585 MacGowan Avenue, North Van. ‘can lead to nasty falls. food processors, toasters and blenders can be hazardous to children. Sharp blades should be stored out of a child’s reach. Special covers should be install- ed over outlets into which appli- ances remain plugged. A safety outlet plate is available for install- ing over outlets used only on oc- casion. They prevent children from inserting objects into the outlet, yet allow access to an adult by means of a spring-loaded but- ton. Most serious poisonings involv- ing children occur while a toxic substance is being used. Be sure you don’t leave cleaning agents in places easily accessible to children. Make certain ant and. roach traps and other forms of vermin control are out of the reach of a crawling child. Parents should be aware of the nature of house plants. Those which might be harmful if in- gested need to be kept out of the reach of curious hands. Other potential dangers in the kitchen include suffocation, ’ highchairs and tables, and slippery floors. Plastic bags and wrap should be stored in a locked cabinet to avoid possible suffocation. : The baby’s highchair should meet all established safety stand- ards for infants, and the restraint belt should always be properly fastened. The chair should never be positioned near the stove, cab- inets or busy food preparation area. Moisture on the floor, whether from cleaning, spilis or grease, Spills should be cleaned up immediately. Special care needs to be taken when a kitchen floor is being scrubbed or waxed. Floor mats should have non-skid backing to prevent sliding when being walked upon. Gates or enclosures need to be installed if stairs lead from the kitchen. in the bathroom Many safety precautions that apply to kitchens should also be observed in the bathroom. Medicine cabinets need to be locked, even if dangerous substances are not stored there. Aspirin, deodorants in all forms, nail polish remover, cosmetics, cologne and hair spray are all poisonous. Even things that are good for us, such as vitamins, can be dan- gerous in large quantities. Drugs should be properly disposed of when no ionger need- ed. Care should be taken to avoid encouraging children to think medicine tastes like candy. This can entice them to get into a med- icine cabinet. Substances commonly stored in the bathroom such as shampoos and conditioners, bow! and other cleaners, are hazardous and should be stored in a locked cup- board. Sharp objects such as razors, razor blades and glass containers are commonly found in bathrooms and should be stored out of the reach of children. Wet and soapy surfaces are especially common in the bathroom. Wipe up spills as soon as possible. Also, bathtub and shower sur- faces are slippery when wet. A suction-cup rubber mat or _ adhesive safety strips are a good idea. Throughout the house If areas of the house are ‘“‘off limits’ to a curious toddler, you will want to install doorknob covers. A doorknob cover with a lock guard feature keeps children from opening closed doors. This lock- guard feature also prevents children from locking themselves in a bathroom or bedroom. cord retainer beneath a countertop or other flat surface will prevent children from pulling objects off tables, counters and shelves. Doors of various design can pose a hazard for small fingers and hands. A safety door stop that slips easily over the top of a standard door prevents pinched fingers. An ounce of prevention - Take the time for a child’s-eye tour of your home. Try to view a room from the perspective of a creeping baby or toddler. You will no doubt find additional ways to safeguard your child’s environ- ment. If, despite all your best efforts, an accident or poisoning occurs, | be prepared by having a list of emergency phone numbers ready, next to the telephone. In those instances when the child has ingested a questionable substance and medical attention is sought, be sure you take the pro- duct in question with you. Following safety precautions and keeping a close watch on babies and young children at all times will help ensure a safer, healthier infancy and childhood. May is Sanderson Month Save 25% on All SANDERSON FABRICS and WALLCOVERINGS Draperies & Sheers let us show you our new seamless EUROPEAN ADO LINE up to 20% OFF Chater interiors installed Friday; May 8, 1992 — North Shore News - 19 Are we off our Rocker ? F REE entry to our Mothers day draw for your choice of our Rocking Chairs. Largest solection of unpainted turnkure in Westem Canada. 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