From electrical hazards to furniture hazards, your home has several potentially harmful areas for members of your household of all ages. From the kids of the house accidentally taking a fall to a friend tripping over a cord, the following tips are simple ways to keep your home as safe and worry-free as possible, especially if there's a wee one at home.
Younger kids can easily get hurt trying to climb or crawl up and down stairs. Kids can also end up being in danger when they're able to access potentially unsafe areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and fireplaces. Use baby gates to block stairways and other hazardous areas of your home.
Set up gates at the top and bottom of stairways to be safe or in doorways to block access to unsafe rooms or areas. Make sure your baby gates are securely in place, so they can't be tipped or pushed over.
Keep potentially dangerous items stored away in cabinets and drawers, but keep in mind kids might be able to access them. Place safety locks or latches on cabinets and drawers with hazardous items in them, such as medications, tools, knives and cleaning products. These locks and latches prevent kids from being able to open drawers and cabinets. Doing this helps reduce the risk of having kids accidentally ingest toxic substances or injure themselves with sharp objects.
Electrical outlets can cause shocks if kids stick their fingers in the sockets. Put outlet plugs in each outlet throughout your home to reduce this risk. You can also get outlet covers to stop kids from being able to touch or play with electrical outlets at all. If you use plugs, make sure they're secure and can't easily be pulled or removed.
Kids might try to climb on heavy pieces of furniture and accidentally cause them to fall over or running into them might make them tip on their own. Use fasteners or brackets to anchor these heavy pieces of furniture to prevent them from falling over and causing serious injuries.
Lori Lockhart originally from York Pennsylvania has been a Sarasota resident and realtor for over 16 years. She specializes in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Venice and the surrounding areas. She is skillful at negotiating and partners with many professionals to offer the best resources to her clients. She is always accessible to her clients and listens to their needs first and foremost. She works with first time home buyers, luxury home owners as well as investors to help them achieve their real estate goals. She has a broad knowledge of the construction industry as she is a licensed Florida General Contractor. She is able to assess construction costs which are such a benefit to her clients as well as offering them advice with regards to new construction. Lori is energetic, hard-working, and strives to exceed her client's expectations by assisting them in every aspect of the transaction. Whether you're new to the area, buying a retirement home or investing in property she has a vast knowledge of it all!
