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Ask the Safety Guy: I have a newborn; where and when should I begin my babyproofing?
Dana | | 
0
It is not too early to start making your home safer for both you and your baby. You are right to recognize that you have several months before your baby becomes mobile enough to get into a lot of trouble, but here are several issues you may want to address right away.
The Basics: Be sure you have smoke detectors with fresh batteries in each bedroom, in the adjacent hallway and on each level of your home. Consider obtaining a Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor as babies, due to their high metabolism, are more susceptible to CO poisoning. And do not overlook the importance of having a fire extinguisher mounted to the wall on each level of your home and an escape ladder for the second story. Consider keeping an extra infant carrier with the escape ladder to ease your exit with baby in tow.
Do It Now: Evaluate your furniture and securely brace to the wall anything that may topple in an earthquake. Do not overlook dressers and shelves that your toddler may attempt to climb a year or so from now. Check your water heater temperature setting to ensure it is as low as possible and not greater than 120 degrees. Finally, make sure your throw rugs have fresh grips beneath them. Otherwise, a grandparent or babysitter may slip and fall while carrying your baby. This is also a good time to prepare or purchase your disaster kits that you can supplement with baby supplies and food.
Sooner Rather Than Later: Technically, you probably do not have to address the safety hazards hidden in your cabinets until your baby is mobile. However, if you latch your “dangerous” cabinets prior to your child exploring them, you can use a lower cost and more adult-friendly latch. Latches installed after a child has explored the cabinets need to be much more sophisticated in order to be effective. Door stops with removable caps (choke hazard) are one of the first things an infant will discover and thus they should be removed or replaced with one piece units. Electrical outlets are the next potentially hazardous fascination (using the sliding plate covers rather than the old-fashioned push-in plugs).
Think About Your Guests: Many of us experience an influx of guests and visitors upon becoming parents. Many of these guests may also have young children, so you may want to accelerate the installation of some safety features (i.e. gates, pool fencing, etc.) to facilitate safe and stress free visits. And do not forget about Grandma and Grandpa. Adding railings on the stairs or grab bars in the guest bathroom with ensure a safe stay for them as well.
In summary, my advice to you is to get started right away with the above referenced tasks as soon as possible. But while you are at it, enjoy and savor this time as much as possible as the days of laying your baby on a blanket (and her actually staying there) are so special and too short-lived. Then at the first signs of mobility, jump into high gear to create a safe environment for your little to explore, grow and learn.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811 or www.homesafety.net
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc.
How Can I "babyproof" my wall heater?
Dana | | 0
Ask The Safety Guy
Kacie from Saratoga asks: How can I “baby-proof” my wall heater?
As we enter the winter season, many families realize that their heater is a safety issue for their infant/toddler children. Depending upon their design, heaters may get very hot to the touch and may have very sharp edges that can easily cut probing little fingers. The need to and options for “baby-proofing” heaters depends upon their design and location.
Gas wall heaters range from one to five feet tall. Both temperature and sharp edges can be an issue. These can be “baby-proofed” by providing a barrier that will not create a fire hazard. Although an off-the-shelf solution does not exist for these, a Configure Gate from KidCo can be effective if sufficient space is available. You will want to have the gate at least 18 inches away from the heater such that your child cannot reach through the Configure Gate to the heater.
When space is limited, parents have also used fireplace screens, secured to the wall on either side of the heater, to keep little hands away. The screens should have a tight mesh, sturdy and taller than your child’s reach. Home centers usually have something that will work. Attaching it to the wall may be a little tricky, but using cable ties and screwed eyelets may do the trick.
Electric baseboard heaters are a little trickier because of their length. Radiant Wraps, LLC makes a retrofit cover system that reduces the opening size and surface temperature while improving the aesthetics. Remove the temperature control knobs by pulling outward when not in use as toddlers love to turn dials.
Floor heaters can be the trickiest of all as they are typically centrally located in a high traffic area of the home. If near a wall, the barrier approach used for wall heaters may work. If not, a custom box cover may be necessary. A cover can be fabricated to fit over the grate and secured to the floor. Ideally, a noncombustible material would be used for the box, but wood or plastic can be used of adequate spacing and ventilation is provided. A somewhat industrial looking, but cost effective solution is achieved by taking a large irrigation control valve box (available at a landscaping supply house) and drilling dozens of one inch diameter holes in the top and sides. It can then be secured to the floor with two small screws or adhesive backed Velcro.
Finally, most homes in our area have central heating from a gas furnace distributed through ducts and vents in each room. Extreme temperatures at the vents are unusual; however, make sure that floor vents cannot be readily removed. The sheet metal ducts can have sharp edges and can conceivably be entrapment hazards. Loose vents can be screwed to the floor to prevent toddler access.
For folks using fireplaces or wood stoves as a heat source, stay tuned, as I will address the associated hazards and solutions in a future column.
Again, if you are making a custom barrier solution, be sure to maintain adequate spacing and ventilation to ensure you do not create a fire hazard. While you are at, change the furnace filter and make sure your Carbon Monoxide monitor has fresh batteries.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guyâ, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811.
The Safety Guyâ is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009
Ask The Safety Guy: As a renter, how much do I babyproof?
Dana | | 0
Heather from San Francisco asks:
As a renter, how much can/should I babyproof?
I am frequently asked this important question, and my answer varies depending upon the age of your baby and the estimated length of your stay. Notice I did not say that it depends upon your landlord or the type of home you are renting. From the perspective of creating a safe environment for your child, age and length of stay should be the driving forces.
The age of your baby is a critical factor as the hazards evolve as a child grows. Parents of a newborn who will be moving out in seven or eight months, probably do not have to do much baby proofing. However, parents of a one year-old that will be staying eight or nine months should probably do a lot. The reason being that many of the greatest dangers (hazards combined with a toddler's increased mobility) present themselves during this period. A severe injury is the same whether it occurs while renting or owning, so it behooves us as parents to do what we can to prevent one from occurring.
The length of stay may also impact the level of baby proofing undertaken. For example, latching cabinets is an essential safety precaution for any toddler, but a simpler latch (i.e. Gerber) may be used if the family will move prior to the child reaching say eighteen months of age.
Parents are occasionally hesitant to use hardware mounted gates when in a rental situation. I strongly encourage them to rethink their reluctance for a couple of reasons. Firstly, if done properly, installing a gate creates screw holes no larger than those required to hang a picture and are readily repairable. Additionally, due to recent product developments, screw holes in finished wood surfaces are rarely necessary (see last month's column). Secondly, a pressure mounted gate is simply inappropriate for top of stair applications (even by the manufacturer's instructions), so using a hardware mounted gate is absolutely necessary for any multi-level rentals.
Finally, the spirit of the California Fair Housing Act would support a tenant's right to make reasonable accommodations to enhance the safety of her family. Thus, although landlords may not be thrilled to have you do some baby proofing, legally they cannot discriminate against you for having a baby nor should they dissuade you from creating a safe home environment for your family.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company. They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811. Previous columns can be viewed at www.homesafety.net.
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009
Child Safety - Furniture Bracing
Dana | | 0
Ask The Safety Guy
Kacey from San Jose asks: Which pieces of furniture should I brace to the wall, and how should I do so?
Last month, I answered the first half of this important question. I described which items should be secured to prevent a climbing toddler or an earthquake from toppling them. In the meantime, the CDC came out with an updated report on the frequency and severity of toppling furniture related childhood injuries. Per the report, roughly 15,000 children are injured or killed each year by furniture and appliances (i.e. televisions) toppling upon them. So, now that we have agreed upon the importance of bracing and which items should be braced, I will address how to do so.
Regardless of the type of hardware used, it is critically important that it be secured to the framing members (or studs) of your home. Most homes in our area have sheetrock or plaster over wood studs. Anchoring a piece of furniture only to the sheetrock or plaster will not provide sufficient strength to hold under stress. Hence, always be sure to locate the studs with a stud finder and make sure you hit the studs when installing a brace. It is equally important that the screws secured into the furniture are into a solid frame member as well and not just into a particle board backing.
There are several different types of hardware available to brace furniture. The simplest is an angle bracket. Available at any hardware store, screwing a pair of these “L” shaped brackets to the top of a piece of furniture and through the sheetrock to the wall studs provides excellent anchorage. Angle brackets work very well for tall bookcases that rest against the wall. They are not as appropriate for shorter furniture or for those that rest an inch or more away from the wall.
Shorter pieces with a finished top surface should be anchored from the back. This way the hardware will not be visible, and the furniture will not be damaged. My current favorite hardware for this application is a vinyl strap product available from safebeginnings.com. It is very secure, versatile and easy to install Other vinyl strap type products use Velcro and double sided tape connections are more widely available but are inferior. Bracing furniture from the backside is more time consuming, but the improved aesthetics are worth it.
Some folks hesitate to brace antiques and heirlooms, fearing damage or depreciation due to drilling holes to secure the hardware. However, if properly anchored from the unfinished backside of the furniture, the value will not be diminished. Furthermore, consider how much more valuable the piece will be if it survives the next earthquake without toppling.
China cabinets, desk and shelf combinations, and entertainment centers are often built as separate sections stacked on top of each other. It is very important to first brace the two sections together (using a flat joint bracket or mending plate on the backside) prior to bracing the top section to the wall.
Finally, as I mentioned last time, televisions also need to be securely braced. For table top flat screens, SafetyFirst makes a good wall mount anchor. For traditional tube televisions, I recommend using the Big Screen and Appliance Strap from QuakeHold (available at most home centers). Alternatively, you can use long lengths of industrial-sized Velcro with an adhesive strip on one side (available at Home Depot). Be sure to thoroughly clean the side surfaces of the TV with alcohol prior to applying the adhesive and then screw the other ends of the Velcro into the wall studs.
Living in earthquake country with young children in the house, there is really no excuse for not having our furniture properly braced.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811.
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009.
child safety, childproofing, emergency preparedness (all tags)
How do I convince my child's grandparents to babyproof their home
Dana | | 1
Ask The Safety Guy
Haley from Los Altos asks:
How do I convince my baby’s grandparents to babyproof their home?
I often hear this lament from clients, and it can be a real challenge to overcome. Let’s face it. Our parents raised us without many of the safety precautions that are generally accepted as the norm today. They survived without seatbelts and smoke detectors not to mention advances such as bike helmets and airbags. Although we cannot imagine a life without some of these, it is understandable that our parents may not appreciate the necessity for say a toilet latch. Your challenge is to empathize with your parents’ reluctance, but also to succeed in getting them to make some safety modifications.
Many grandparents have the mindset that their children survived just fine without extensive babyproofing, why should they do anything differently for their grandchildren. To their defense, most grandparents are not aware of how many children didn’t survive in their time. Whether by drowning in unfenced swimming pools, poisoning from unsecured chemicals or medications, strangling in dangling window cords or falling from balconies or windows, news and statistics of such tragedies were not tracked or communicated as efficiently then as they are today.
So, after empathizing with their reservations, how do we move toward making changes? You have several strategies from which to choose including the use of logic, guilt, an ultimatum or just doing it for them.
Logic – Do some research regarding the particular hazard(s) with which you are most concerned and present some statistical evidence. For example, if they are reluctant to fence their pool, let them know that drowning is the leading cause of preschooler accidental deaths in California and 75% of preschoolers that drown were missing for less than five minutes. You can even mention that a toddler recently drowned in a matter of minutes at her grandparent’s home in Woodside in a fountain (ironically while the mother was installing a carseat).
Guilt – That’s right. Your parents are expert at making you feel guilty; this is your opportunity to turn the table on them. Simply making reference to how badly you would feel for them if a tragic accident occurred at their home, especially one that could have readily been prevented.
Ultimatum – If your parents refuse to address critical hazards, frankly, it is your responsibility as a parent to not leave your child there. Many grandparents respond favorably when they realize that the safer their home is, the more time they will get to spend with their grandchildren.
Just Do It – Take the initiative and get it done. Do it yourself at your expense. Your parents may not buy-in to the need, but they will often allow it to be done if they don’t have to do it themselves. Alternatively, you can hire a professional to do it for them. Doing so has the additional benefit of bringing an objective and expert perspective to the table and a guarantee that the work will be done in a professional and expeditious manner.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811.
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009.
Keeping kids safe at home - Ask the Safety Guy
Dana | | 0
Ask The Safety Guy
Paula from Santa Clara asks:
Should I allow my child to play on a trampoline?
Sadly, my advice is to not allow children to play on trampolines. I say “sadly” because jumping is one of the great joys of child, and trampolines can be both great fun and good exercise. Unfortunately, the risks of potentially serious injury outweigh the benefits from my perspective as a parent and that as of The Safety Guy.
Injuries from mild to paralysis occur when children fall off the trampoline or by landing on their head when attempting to do a flip. Injuries more frequently occur when two or more are jumping, and the smaller child is five times more likely to be injured. Not surprisingly, the rate of injuries is highest for children under the age of six.
Analysis has also found that supervision is not sufficient to prevent injuries. Safety devices, such as nets, also fail to do the trick. A recent study in Austria (Schalaman - 2008) found that nets were present in 56% of the cases when injuries occurred.
Although they recommend against the use of home trampolines, if one is to be used, the American Academy of Pediatrics has the following safety recommendations.
Location of the trampoline and safety features:
• Clear the surrounding area and set it away from trees, fences, and playground equipment.
• Set the trampoline where it is surrounded by an energy-absorbing surface (e.g. mulch).
• Buy and use a frame pad that covers the entire area of the spring system.
• Consider lowering the height to ground level by putting the trampoline in a pit.
Before using the trampoline:
• Set rules for trampoline use and discuss them often with your children.
• Tell your children about the risks of not using the tramp properly.
• Have your children remove any necklaces.
Using the trampoline:
• Have someone properly train your child how to do flips and other complex stunts.
• Never allow more than one person to use the trampoline at the same time.
• Do not allow bouncing followed by jumping off of the trampoline.
• Have an adequate number of spotters around the edges of the trampoline.
A recent study in Austria summarizes my point when it concluded that “at present, trampolines cannot be made safe for recreational activities and are of an unacceptable risk even under supervision.”
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated safetyfitting company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811 or at www.homesafety.net.
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009.
child, safety, home, childproofing (all tags)
Safetyfiting Your Home - AKA Childproofing
Dana | | 0
As we all know, children learn by exploring their environment. Home Safety Services is committed to creating a safer home environment for your child in order to support their natural curiosity and development, prevent injuries, and provide you with peace of mind.
Our professional service includes both comprehensive in-home assessment and installation of child-safety products by our field service technicians who are licensed and bonded general contractors. We are safetyfitting experts, serving the entire Bay Area and we can help you identify and prioritize the safety issues in your home or offer guidance over the phone for those “do-it-yourselfers”. Check us out on the web at www.homesafety.net or call us at 650.571.7774 to schedule your appointment today.
child, safety, home, childproofing (all tags)
