One feels the safest at home and the safety needs vary from home to home. Evaluate and plan your home safety and your home will actually be the low accident zone. The potential for a dangerous fall or a tumble into a sharp edge can happen in nearly every area of your home at nearly every age. Keep the following points in mind.

1. Windows: Open windows from the top or use window guards to prevent your child from falling out. Move chairs, cribs, beds and other furniture away from windows to prevent children from climbing onto sills.

2. Stairs: Never leave a child unattended around stairs. Install a safety gate at the top and bottom of every stairway. Keep stairways clear of toys, shoes, loose carpeting, etc.

3. Around Your Home: Avoid using loose rugs on the floor. Never put babies in child safety, infant or bouncer seats on a countertop or atop furniture. The force of the baby’s movements could propel the seat over the side and cause serious injuries. Make sure the top-heavy pieces like overloaded bookshelves or entertainment centers are away of the children reach and are fixed else can fall on your child. Attach protective padding or other specially designed covers to corners of tables with sharp edges.

4. Beds: Do not let a child under the age of six uses the top bunk of a bunk bed. Attach guardrails to the side of the top bunk.

SECURITY FROM FIRE
Burns can happen in any and almost every home. Prevention is only better than cure.
1.  Prevent home fires by making sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and in each bedroom. Test smoke alarms regularly.
2. Have a fire extinguisher installed in the kitchen.
3. Keep matches, lighters, chemicals and lit candles out of your child’s reach.
4. Don’t smoke inside the house.
5.  Avoid running electrical wires under rugs or carpet or overload electrical sockets and put child-safety covers on all electrical outlets.
6. Position television and stereo equipment against walls so small hands don’t have access to the back surfaces or cords.
7. Check electronic toys frequently as any object that sparks, feels hot, or smells unusual must be repaired or discarded immediately.
8. Keep electric space heaters at least three feet away from beds, curtains or anything flammable.
9. Always test bath water with your elbow before putting your child in it.
10. Unplug all bathroom appliances when not in use.
11. Don’t drink hot beverages or soup with a child sitting on your lap, or carry hot liquids and dishes around your child.
12. Never hold a baby or small child while cooking.
13. Install a stove lock and stove knob locks.
14. Keep hot drinks and foods out of reach of children.
15. Avoid using tablecloths or large placemats. A small child can pull on them and overturn a hot drink or plate of food.
16. Keep electric cords out of reach of children.