Home insurance - Tips & Advice - Safety in the home
Kneel down and look around your home through the eyes of a child. You may be surprised at how many things suddenly pose a threat to their safety. These can include sharp edges on furniture, open stairs to fall down, electrical wires and sockets within easy reach of little fingers, and toxic chemicals or medicines that could be mistaken for tasty drinks.
You can easily help prevent accidents by being one step ahead and limiting the risks. Here are some of the main things to attend to and look out for:
Electrics
Cover all sockets with plug socket guards to stop little ones sticking their fingers in. You should also place lamps and appliance cords out of the reach of children and tape up any excess to give them less opportunity to pull. Cords that fix into the back of appliances such as stereos should also be well hidden – if a child pulls these out while they are plugged in and puts them into their mouth, the outcome could be very serious.
Doors
According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA), 30,000 children in the UK seriously trap and injure their fingers in doors every year. But protection measures are simple. Front and back hinges can be fitted with protection strips. These long strips of plastic fit into the hinge where the door is fixed to the wall and bend with the door when opened to prevent children from slipping their fingers in.
You can also fit doors with rubber stoppers to prevent them from slamming shut and add safety catches to the inside of drawers and cupboards so children can’t open them without your help. Doorknobs can also be covered with a special over-sized device that spins when children try to turn them but are easy for adults to override.
Stairs
Prevent children tumbling down stairs by installing a safety gate at the top and bottom. These can also be used to prevent access to other areas such as corridors or halls. All gates should also comply with British Safety Standards.
Fire safety
Keep children away from fire and dangerous spots in the kitchen such as pans of boiling water or fat. If you have an open fire, invest in a good fireguard. Never leave children alone in rooms with naked flames including candles, and keep matches in a safe place – if they see you striking one children can easily mimic your moves.
Obviously the kitchen is the area where you have to be extra careful. Keep children away from the stove, teach them about kitchen safety and danger points as early as you can, turn ovens off as soon as you have used them, and ensure that you have a working smoke alarm and extinguisher to hand in case something does go up in flames.
Medicines
Many products in the home are toxic and especially poisonous if ingested by humans. While adults can differentiate between a bottle of white spirit and a bottle of water, for example, your child may not yet have developed skills like these. So make sure all cleaning products and medicines are out of reach of children and babies – especially things like bleach. Buy products that have safety caps so that little ones cannot twist them open and teach them about any dangerous products as soon as you can. This includes educating them about not eating soap or other toiletry products that you may leave in more accessible places in the bathroom or dressing table.
Making your home a safer place for children can also prevent them from damaging furniture, fittings, entertainment equipment or other valuables. If an accident should happen and your child is harmed, make sure you get in touch with the emergency services immediately.
If your home or its contents are damaged in the process then you could also make a claim under your Direct Line Home contents or buildings insurance. We provide up to £1 million (this cover is unlimited with Direct Line Home Insurance Plus) for the cost of rebuilding your home including permanent fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms, plus new-for-old cover on a range of household goods including furniture, carpets and curtains.
If you have small children, make sure your home and its contents are covered by visiting http://www.directline.com/home/welcome.htm and applying for an online Direct Line Home Buildings and Contents Insurance quote today.
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