Keeping Kids Safe Tips
Read these 5 Keeping Kids Safe Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Home Security tips and hundreds of other topics.
Educating Kids About Fire Safety & Alarms
When it comes to your children fire safety should be a paramount concern. It is very important to educate them at a young age about the dangers of fire. They need to know that it can harm them and they should stay away from it at all times.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the majority of people killed in fires started by children are under the age of five. These fires are also the leading cause of death among preschoolers.
NEVER leave matches or a lighter lying around where a child can reach them. An NFPA study showed that two out of three fires started by children began with lighters or matches.
Teach your children at an early age what it means when the smoke alarm or home security system goes off. If they know it means there may be a fire there is a better chance they will follow the proper steps you teach them.
Keeping your kids safe starts with educating them. Fire safety is the most important thing to impart on children at a young age to avoid them starting a fire or being hurt in one.
Keeping Your Yard Safe For Kids
Gates and fences surrounding your yard can help to keep burglars out, but they can also help to keep your children safely inside. Make sure to keep these locked with child-proof locks to avoid children wandering outside and getting lost or hurt.
Metal gates can rust over time from weather conditions and age. These can be dangerous to adults and children, so use rust remover and keep the gate in good repair to avoid cuts and infections.
Wooden gates should be properly sanded and painted so they cannot cause injuries to children. If your gate is old and may have lead pain on it, strip the paint and replace it with a fresh coat that is lead-free. Lead-based paint is a danger to child safety at home.
You can also place motion sensors in your yard so your child cannot go past a certain point without your supervision. While the primary use for these is stopping burglars from entering your property, they are a lot of help in keeping your kids safe in more basic ways.
Pools & Child Safety Measures
Pools can be a lot of fun but they can also be very dangerous for an unsupervised child. If you have a pool in your backyard use wireless motion detectors in the surrounding area in case one of the little guys gets away from you.
They can alert you if a child is near the pool when they are not supposed to be and help avoid an accident before it happens. Outdoor security cameras near the pool are also a great way of monitoring the area for child safety.
Make sure that you do not leave toys like water tubes lying on the ground around the pool either. These can easily go unnoticed and cause children to trip and fall into the pool.
Obviously the first priority is to not let children get near the pool without adult supervision, but it is always a good idea to take extra safety precautions when it comes to your children, and home security systems with motion detectors can help do that.
If you have a gate around the pool area make sure to keep it locked to ensure child safety at home.
Making Children Feel Safe In the Neighborhood
It is important to make sure that child safety extends beyond the home and into the entire neighborhood. That's why you should make sure that your children know and are comfortable with your neighbors.
In case of an emergency they should be able to go to a neighbor's house. If a burglar attempts to break in while your children are home they should have a place where they feel safe. Come up with a family plan for what to do in instances like this and make sure you are keeping your kids safe.
This plan should include the following:
- Where to go
- Numbers to call
- Entrances/exits in the house to use
Make sure to teach them early on important emergency contact numbers, including 911, neighbors, family members, etc. Let them know when it is appropriate to use these numbers.
Child & Fire Safety
Every child's bedroom should be equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for fire safety. These devices can work wirelessly with your home security system to alert you of an emergency.
While the detectors can also work independently from your security alarm, it is better to have them all integrated. If there is a fire or high levels of carbon monoxide in a child's room the alarm company is immediately notified. This can save a lot of time in case of an emergency
Separate sensors are usually loud enough to get your attention and maybe that of a neighbor's, but the time saved by your monitoring company alerting the local authorities and emergency services may be critical. It can dramatically cut down response time.
No matter what, every child's room needs to be monitored and protected, but having those sensors connected to your security alarm is the best and safest option. Ask your alarm company for sensors that will work with your existing system to provide the best child safety.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Jolyn Wells-Moran |
