HOUSEHOLD/CHILD SAFETY (THE LIVING ROOM)
The Living room is the next place in the house we will be looking at. This area has a lot of furniture, electronics and cables flying around. Hope you will find it educating.
THE LIVING ROOM
This is where most time is spent in the house and it is also the first place of contact for guests. Childproofing here is very important because you are not just concerned about your own child, but also about the children of your visitors. The most effective way to observe the kind of hazards children are exposed to in the living room is to crawl around the room on your hands and knees.
• Always use candles in a supervised safe manner, and extinguish them before leaving the room.
• Extension cords are only a temporary solution. If the number of outlets is insufficient, have an electrician wire a new one.
• When using an extension cord temporarily, ensure that it is in good state and suitable for the job. Never place cords under carpeting, or through walls.
• Never use an outdoor extension cord indoors, or vice versa. Indoor and outdoor extension cords are designed differently. Improper usage could cause a fire.
• Electronics like televisions, decoder and DVD players can get very hot. Make sure you have space around them for aeration, and don't put papers or clothing on them.
• Walls must be in good condition, with no peeling or cracking paint (which could contain lead in older homes).
• Rugs must be secured to floors or fitted with anti-slip pads underneath.
• All glass doors in the house must contain decorative markers so they won't be mistaken for open doors.
• All sliding doors must have childproof locks.
• Window blind cords must be tied with clothespins or specially designed cord clips?
• Bookshelves and other furniture secured with wall brackets so they can't be tipped over.
• There must be protective padding on any corners of coffee tables, furniture, and counter tops that have sharp edges.
• All unused outlets must be covered with safety plugs.
• All major electrical appliances must be grounded.
• Cord holders must be used to keep longer cords fastened against walls.
• Checked for and removed other potential electrical fire hazards, such as overloaded electrical sockets and electrical wires running under carpets.
• Televisions, computers and other electronics must be positioned against walls.
Looking forward to churn out the next blog that will cover the bedroom.
