HOUSEHOLD/CHILD SAFETY (THE BATHROOM)

Almost 13 months after the last post, I am concluding the Household/Child Safety Series. It's been a long struggle, but I am happy this is being put to rest. I am happy to be able to share my thoughts on the subject matter in the public space, my desire is that this will be of help to as many as possible across geographical divides. Enjoy!!!

THE BATHROOM

The bathroom is often the most dangerous room in a home. It's a room with hard and often wet slippery flooring furnished with toilets, tubs, showers and sinks made of such unforgiving materials as porcelain, ceramic, chrome and tile. In addition, some of the most lethal medicines and cleaning products in the house are stored in the bathroom cabinets. The bathroom requires extra care and planning to prevent accidents. The combination of water, medications and electrical appliances make safety precautions in and around the bathroom essential for every family member. Safe storage of supplies, constant adult supervision around water and swift cleaning of slick surfaces should be common practice to help reduce the risk of some of home injuries.

•        Shower doors should be made from safety glass or heavy-duty plastic.
•       Always run cold water before the hot to prevent accidental scalding.
•       Always check the water temperature before getting into the bath.
•       Always remove soap from the bath water to prevent slipping.
•       Keep electrical items, such as hairdryers, radios, shavers etc. away from the  bath or basin.
•       Use non-slip mats or strips on the bottom of the bath.
•       Handles attached to the wall can prevent accidents when getting out of the  bath.
•       Never use electric fires in a bathroom unless it is specifically made for the  purpose.
•       Keep the bathroom floor clean and dry.
•       Use nightlights in hallways and bathrooms.
•       Don't let young children use the sink or tub without help. When children  are in the tub, stay close enough to touch them.
•       Know the things in your bathroom that are poisons
•       Look at the labels for the words "Caution," "Warning," "Danger," "Poison" or  "Keep Out of Reach of Children" on the box or bottle
•       Keep all medicines and cleaning products in the containers they came in.      Keep labels on them.
•       All your medicines and cleaning products should have child safety caps.
•       All medicines, cosmetics (make-up) and cleaning supplies should be locked  in a cabinet
•       Always unplug appliances after using them.

As I clearly stated in the penultimate post on this series, the next series will be on radiation. I started something similar on twitter recently (you can follow us on @zadamultitech), I hope it will be as informative and educative as possible. 

HOUSEHOLD/ CHILD SAFETY (THE BEDROOM)

All of us acquire the relaxation and sleep we need in the bedroom. We have to acquire the sleep that we need for us to be able to manage our daily activities. For the child, special attention must be given to setting up the bedroom because a child is not supervised when sleeping. These vital safety tips must be kept in mind;


• Never store chemicals or medicines in the bedroom.
• Keep all powders, lotions and ointments far out of reach of young children
• Never place cribs, beds, chairs, toy boxes or chests near or under window openings or near electrical outlets/electrical cords.
• If using a pacifier, inspect it for discoloration, cracks, holes and tears.
• Venetian blind cords can be hazardous to your child. Secure the cord up top of the blind and away from cribs or chairs.
• Place electrical outlet covers on unused outlet openings.
• Make certain that toy boxes and chests have ventilation holes and that they can be freely opened.
• Never place a child on a waterbed - they run a high risk of suffocating.
• Soft mattresses, pillows, comforters, stuffed toys and bumper pads should not be used in cribs.
• Always have a hand on the baby when on the change table - if you are interrupted by a phone call or door bell, secure the child in a crib.
• All furniture should be sturdy and untippable. Secure shelving units, dressers, and other free-standing items to the wall.
• Lock drawers, doors, and cabinets. Install safety latches on all storage items that your child should not have access to.
• Don't entice your child to danger. Never place attractive toys on high shelves, which could encourage him to climb, or leave drawers open, which could encourage him to step into them.
• Check dresser knobs for safety. Dresser knobs should be too large to swallow and too small to provide a climbing foothold. They should also be attached securely and designed not to be easily pulled by a child.
• Pad sharp edges. Specially designed corner cushions guards help prevent injuries. Don't simply tape foam or other materials to the corners of sharp furniture since it can present a choking hazard.
• Store toys conveniently. Keep toys either in an easily accessible place or out of sight. If you use a toy box, choose one without a lid.
• Avoid curtains that can be pulled down. Tie or remove dangling window-shade and window-blind cords.

Hope this blog has been very helpful in keeping your home safe, especially for the children. The final issue on Household/Child Safety is the next one and that will cover the bathroom.

N.B

I had an interesting conversation with my mom the other day in which she told me that her church Pastor announced to them from the pulpit that they should not use microwave oven to process their food because it has the capacity to radioactively contaminate their food. I was enormously outraged because it is a misinformation, and I was especially "mad" because it came from "The Pastor", whose words in this part of the world is taken hook, line and sinker (even with the fisherman and the boat sometimes).

As an accredited Radiation Safety Consultant, part of my duty by law is to educate and enlighten on issues (or should I say the myth) surrounding radiation and its effects both on humans and the environment. During the course of the series, the "microwave oven" misinformation will be addressed, and so many other issues too. Also, if you have any question or need to clarify any information you have heard before now about radiation, you are free to ask us by dropping a comment here. We promise to answer them as simple and understandable as possible.

Looking forward to a wonderful time together on here.

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.

HOUSEHOLD/CHILD SAFETY (THE KITCHEN)
For some reasons I can not understand or explain, I was not dedicated to this blog. Then someone I respect so much told me yesterday in clear terms that I have to, and I am here today. Whether you are reading this later today, tomorrow or 17 months later, I will like to encourage you never to push to the background whatever you know it is important to your existence. This blog is important to mine.
The last blog was an introduction to Household/Child Safety, and this is starting from the kitchen. I really hope you will find it educating.


THE KITCHEN
This is the place with the highest probability of fire incident. Kitchen fire is totally different from any other fire especially if it is caused by ignited hot oil. The most common kitchen fire starts in a pan or on top of the stove. When this occurs, don’t try to move it because by doing so will only increase the possibility of spreading the flames. Try to extinguish the fire in the pan by slowly sliding a lid over the pan. Don’t throw the lid from a distance or place the lid directly on the pan. By sliding the lid on top of the pan, oxygen is cut off to the fire and as such, it will extinguish. Once this has been achieved, turn the burner off to remove the heat source.Under no circumstances should water be used to put out a fire in a pan, especially if ignited by overheated oil; doing so will only increase the intensity of the fire, causing more damage by spreading the flame to other parts of the kitchen.

If the fire starts in the oven, closing the oven door will cut off the oxygen and smother the fire in most cases. Turn off the oven to remove the heat source and keep the oven door closed. A well designed kitchen should have at least 2 exits, with one leading out of the building and cooker should not be close to the exit(s) from the kitchen. This is to have the exit(s) not quickly blocked by the fire in case of an intense fire that spreads quickly across the room. Chip pans are the most common cause of house fires in the United Kingdom, with around 12,000 chip pan fires every year, with 1,100 chip fires being considered serious. These fires result in over 4,600 injuries, and 50 deaths per year.

Most kitchen fire can be put out quickly if an adequate fire extinguisher (Dry Chemical Powder) is available and used correctly. A fire blanket can be used to extinguish fire in a pan or on a stove, especially the one caused by overheated oil which water must not be use to extinguish. It is important to store the fire extinguisher and blanket away from the cooker so it can be easily reached if a fire occurs. Don’t hang it over the stove or other potential fire areas.

In using the fire extinguisher, remember P.A.S.S;
P - Pull the release pin.
A - Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
S - Squeeze the lever.
S - Sweep from side to side.

In the case of a high intensity fire that cannot be handled, make sure that everyone is out of the house. Call the Fire Service Department and gather everyone out in the front of the building until they arrives.

Once out, stay out!

When in the kitchen;

• Proper clothing is very important. Kitchen fires can ignite your clothing when you're working around the stove. Long, frilly, or loose fitting sleeves are likely to come in contact with the hot surface and catch fire. You should always wear short sleeves when working around a hot stove.
• Never leave the area unattended while cooking. If you must leave the kitchen for any reason while cooking (i.e. phone, doorbell ringing) shut all elements off, or take an oven mitt with you as a reminder.
• Regular cleaning of the cooker, hood, and vent system is also important.
• Don't store cleaning products under the sink, or anywhere that children can reach and ingest them.

Child Safety in the kitchen
• Knives, forks, scissors, and other sharp tools should be in a drawer with a childproof latch
• Dishwasher lock should be installed so kids can't reach breakable dishes, knives, and other dangerous objects.
• Stove lock should be installed and knob protectors placed on the stove knobs.
• Never hold your child while in the kitchen. Children may try to grab hot food or sharp items that could injure them. If a child does grab a sharp item like knife, do not try to pull it out of the child’s hand, instead firmly squeeze the child’s wrist until they let go of the object.
• Chairs and step stools must be positioned away from the stove.
• When cooking, all pot handles on the stove must be turned inward or placed on back burners where children can't reach them.
• Glass objects and appliances with sharp blades stored out of reach
• Garbage can must be behind a cabinet door with a childproof latch.
• Appliances must be unplugged when not in use, with cords out of reach.
• Medicine bottles should be stored in a high cabinet far from reach.
• Matches and lighters stored in a locked cabinet.
• Cabinet under the sink must be free of cleaning supplies, insecticides, dishwasher detergent, and dish-washing liquid because these supplies should be out of the reach of children.
• Bottles containing alcohol must be stored out of reach.
• Any cords or wires must be out of reach.
• Childproof latches should be installed on all cabinet doors.
• There must be a working fire extinguisher.
• The child's highchair must have a safety belt with a strap between the legs.

HOUSEHOLD/CHILD SAFETY

Unfortunately our homes are where we are most likely to be injured.  By far the most common type of home injuries is unintentional, but they are avoidable if only we take precautions every step of the way. Preventing home injuries is tricky because no one approach is going to be effective on its own. However, if the home environment is designed to be safer, then the consequence of any unsafe behaviour is likely to be less.

Some groups are at greater risk of injury in the home.  The elderly, for example, can have limits to their mobility or a slower response to hazards in the environment. Young children have not yet developed fully, both in physical development and understanding and in management of risks. Physical or sensory disabilities make some people especially vulnerable to injury.  Most of us at some stage suffer disability, even if only for a short time through injury or illness.  Our personal and family circumstances can change very quickly, and you may also want to consider the safety of friends, visitors, or potential future owners of your home. Perhaps the best approach is to remember that anything which makes a home safer for any one of us makes it safer for all of us.  Plan a home where both inside and outside areas can be used safely by everyone.

This subject will be considered on a room to room basis in the house; kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. Hazard assessment, mitigation procedure and childproofing for each room will be considered.

Safety is not a one-off thing, but a culture; a habit that must be developed and improved upon always.

Welcome

This is the WELCOME blog on this site. As an Integrated Safety Consultant, what you will be reading from my blogs will not be far from my core competence; Health, Safety, Security and Environment. And also as a Radiation Safety Consultant, the concept of radiation and its safety and protection will be demystified.

Welcome on board everyone. I pray I will be able to keep it coming as much as I wish. Thank you guys.

Ayodeji