After a hard day's work, I want so quicklyreturn home, where even the native walls act pacifyingly and relaxing. But only if the apartment fully complies with safety. And if, say, you have a small child? We asked the experts to give some advice, thanks to which the house will be safe not only for you, but for your uncleanness.
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1. Equip windows with protective systems
“A modern apartment hides a lot ofdangers for a child, and the main one among them is open windows. Therefore, parents with small children should think about equipping windows with special protective systems, fortunately, almost everyone can afford them. There are several ways to make windows safe. One of the most effective is to install functionality limiters, for example, locking handles. They are easy to find in the assortment of window companies, buy in construction hypermarkets or order online. A handle with a lock is installed instead of a regular one, and for this it is not at all necessary to resort to the help of professionals. You only need to unscrew two screws, remove the old handle, put a new one in its place and secure the product with the same screws. Just 10 minutes of work, and you will no longer have to jump up from your seat when the child approaches the window. In addition, a new type of window barriers is currently being tested. The design is a thin grate that is attached to the profile from the outside and does not allow the child to fall out of the window, even if he opens the sash. What is important is that, unlike the blind metal bars that are so popular with ground floor residents, this barrier does not darken the room, does not block evacuation routes, and does not hinder access to the apartment for firefighters, emergency workers, and police officers. Adults can freely open the structure, and when the child grows up, they can remove it themselves,” shares advice Anton Karyavkin, head of the technical center for the strategic direction “Construction” of REHAU in Eastern Europe.
2. Install special glazing against drafts
"When it comes to the safety of children in the home,Many of us immediately start thinking about measures to reduce injuries: hide all sharp objects and household chemicals, cover electrical outlets, do not let children grab a hot iron. But what often goes unnoticed is protection from drafts, although they are the main sources of colds for both children and their parents. “Can’t the problem be solved by airing the rooms one by one, without opening all the windows at once?” readers may logically ask. Unfortunately, this is far from always the case. A standard situation: the apartment has sealed plastic windows, it is winter outside, so they are all closed. But it still blows, especially on the floor, where the child likes to play. The reason is the so-called draft effect. You can reduce the “cold inner glass” effect by using double-glazed windows consisting of two energy-saving glasses. “Due to a special silver-based coating, such glass works as a transparent filter: it transmits visible light well, but reflects heat from radiators and household appliances back into the room,” says Yulia Smirnova, a marketing communications specialist at Guardian.
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3. Secure all outlets, cabinets and doors
The most comfortable place for a child should behis children's room. After all, this is where he spends most of his time. Therefore, check whether the furniture is securely installed and/or secured, whether there are any sharp corners near the crib (silicone pads will help to cope with them). Sockets are a separate item. They must be closed with special plugs or a special case and protective box for the socket must be purchased. It will be more reliable! It will also be a good idea to check the reliability of the fastening of cabinets and shelves, because the child (especially the hyperactive and inquisitive one) will definitely want to climb up to find out what is interesting there. Therefore, it is important that the shelves do not tip over onto the baby and accidentally injure him. Pay special attention to interior doors and cabinet doors. To prevent the baby from accidentally pinching his hand during play, it is better to purchase and install a special door shock absorber and blocker. Thanks to the door shock absorber, the doors will not be able to slam shut, and the blocker will not allow the child to open the cabinet doors. And so that the young explorer does not accidentally go out into the entrance and onto the street, the front door should also be equipped with a special lock, which will not be so easy to open.
4. Hide all piercing-cutting-cleaning items.
What is your favorite place to play in the house?Of course, the kitchen! Especially when mom is busy with something and the child has a bunch of ideas for how to use certain kitchen utensils or even household appliances. Here you should be on the alert! You should start by making the kitchen stove safe. This can be achieved by installing special locks on the stove handles and a protective screen on the stove itself. By the way, this screen is made of transparent heat-resistant plastic, lightweight and safe. You should also install a special latch on the oven, which will not allow the child to open the oven and get burned by hot air. Household chemicals, vinegar, bulk goods, sharp and cutting objects are best stored in the farthest upper cabinet. After all, every mother knows that these are the items that arouse genuine interest in the baby. You can install a special latch lock on the refrigerator. And the child will not be able to play with the refrigerator doors, and you will not be tempted by harmful delicacies once again.
5. Secure the bathroom
Let's move on to the bathroom.In principle, it is generally not recommended to leave the baby alone during bathing procedures. But if you suddenly get carried away and the child decides to make a playground in the bathroom, then it is better if everything is safe and comfortable there. Shampoos, soap, shaving products, household chemicals and other products are best securely hidden under a lock so that the child has no way to get to them. A special anti-slip rubber mat should be placed on the bottom of the bathtub. It would not be a bad idea to lay some kind of water-repellent carpet on the tiled floor. Also, do not forget to check that mirrors, shelves and cabinets are securely fastened, and electrical appliances are turned off and put away in a drawer. And so that your new phone does not suffer the fate of, say, being drowned in the toilet, you can (even need to!) purchase a special device (a plastic lock on straps that securely fixes the toilet lid).
6. Install security doors for balconies and stairs
The balcony is also a dangerous area for children.It is necessary to ensure that the exit to the balcony is reliably protected. For example, a lattice safety gate is perfect for this purpose, which will close automatically, even if you suddenly forget about it. If you live in a country house and have a staircase, then you need to install a protective gate at the entrance to the stairs. But, most importantly, do not leave your fidget alone for a long time, so that he is not tempted to climb onto a window, open a balcony or tip a rack on himself.
