4 Ways To Make Your House A Safe And Healthy Environment For Children
Kids and families can be exposed to harmful substances in their own homes every year, so it's important to create a healthy environment. Making our homes a place where our kids feel secure and content is very important to us as parents.
The home should be a place where they can run around and discover new things on their own. If you are concerned about making your home environment safe and healthy, there are a number of things you can do. Read on to find out more.
Indoor Air Quality
Improving the air quality inside can be very important, especially if someone in the home deals with asthma attacks and other allergy symptoms. Getting rid of all the allergens in your home may not be feasible. But do everything you can to keep pet hair, dust, and mold from building up.
You may consider getting an air purification system or, if you already have one that isn't working as well as it should, get an air conditioner repair company to service it. This will help get rid of harmful organic substances in the air, catch pet dander, and make any fireplace smoke less harmful.
Also, get rid of clutter! Cleaning your bedding regularly, and dusting wall hangings and other things that can collect allergens on a regular basis is an important thing to add to the to-do list. Especially if you have pets. If you can tolerate it and don't have too many outdoor allergies, air the house out on nice-weather days for fresh air.
Replacing air filters inside the home is also important to limiting indoor dust and allergens.
Electrical Safety
Every day, whether you see them or not, there are electrical dangers in your home. So, it's important to find any dangers or items that need child-proofing. Also, it's important to remember that kids are much more curious than adults, and it's up to you to teach them how dangerous electricity can be.
By doing this, you will help them know what to avoid when it comes to electrical safety and ensure that they understand the issues associated with it. As they get older, have them demonstrate electrical safety back to you. Such as, show me the best way to plug or unplug the vacuum (or any appliance) cord. Ask them if they know the signs of a non-working or dangerous home outlet. These are just a few ways you can help kids establish good safety skills around electricity.
Fire Safety And Burns
Fire safety is covered in many schools, but it's also important to talk about at home. If a fire breaks out in your home, you would have less than two minutes to run to safety? Install smoke alarms on every room of your home (you can check with your local fire department for exact recommendations) and test them regularly to ensure they are working properly in the event of a fire.
Have a conversation with your children about fire safety. Most experts recommend creating an escape plan in the event of a fire, and doing real life drills to practice how to escape and where to go. Never leave a candle unattended, stock up on fire extinguishers, and have reliable heating methods.
Young children are especially vulnerable to burns from hot beverages like soup, coffee, and even tap water. Place all hot items out of your child's reach, and never hug or pick up your child while holding a hot cup. While cooking, keep children away from hot surfaces and teach them proper distancing from hot ovens and stovetops.
Choking Hazards
One cause of infant and toddler mortality is choking. It is essential that you store all items that could be swallowed by your child high and out of their reach. Taking a first aid or CPR class is a great way to be intentional about health and safety. Often, CPR and first aid is required for your job anyway, but it's a valuable skill if you have children or babysit for family and friends. Having a good knowledge of CPR and life-saving first aid techniques is a great investment for your family's health and safety. Check around with your local library, pediatrician's office, and other community resources for a free CPR or first aid class in your area.
Your house should be a safe place for your children. Make sure you do all you can to give them somewhere to live that protects them.
