Tragic household accidents happen every day. Poisonings, drowning, and suffocation fill the evening news. No parent should ever have to deal with the heartbreak and regret that follows a preventable accident. Here are some common household dangers everyone should be aware of.
Medications
Pills look a lot like candy and liquid medications resemble juice. According to the CDC, 568,939 children were unintentionally exposed to pharmaceuticals between 2001 and 2003. While most of these cases were not deadly, they could have been. 95 percent of poisoning deaths in the US are due to medications. Medications must be stored in childproof containers in high, locked cabinets.
Cleaning Supplies
Household cleaning products may be harmful and even fatal to children if ingested. Liquid detergents and sprays are often brightly colored and resemble juice. Keep all cleaning chemicals out of reach, preferably up high and in a locked cupboard. Never leave cleaning supplies under the sink, even if it has a child safety latch.
Standing Water
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 350 children under the age of 5 drown each year in swimming pools. Yet it’s not just pools that are dangerous. Any amount of standing water is hazardous to small children. Bathtubs, buckets, toilets, and hot tubs also present a drowning risk. Never leave standing water anywhere a child may get into it.
