How safe is your home?

Bottle tops, bath water and toys may look innocent but are potential hazards for a baby. JOHN MUTURI shows you how to minimise dangers around a child

I recall an unfortunate incident some few years back. My sister-in-law put a cup of hot tea on the table, thinking her baby couldn’t reach it. Suddenly, she heard piercing screams — the baby had knocked the cup over and splashed the tea all over her face, chest and arms.

She was panicking as she called me. When I arrived, I was shocked at what I saw. I called a mission hospital in the neighbourhood and explained the situation.

We were told to rip off the child’s pyjamas off and put her in a lukewarm bath. We rushed the baby to the hospital since an ambulance was not available. At the hospital a special gel was applied before some strong painkillers were administered.

Luckily the wounds healed well within three months. It was a learning experience. So how safe is your home for a baby?

Yes you’ve fitted the stair gate and put safety locks on cupboards some of which you hardly even remembered existed, but does that make your home safe for your child?

I bet not really. Chances are there’s still an innocent object that is hazardous for your child. That’s why many children are taken to hospital each year following an accident in the home.

Let’s look at the hidden dangers even the smartest mothers miss:

Small amounts of water

It’s common to leave water bowls on the kitchen floor, but did you know a child could fall face down into it and drown in as little as 3cm of water? So put bowl out of your child’s reach or ensure she’s never left unsupervised around it. If water gets splashed from the bowl, your child might slip over on it and get injured.

And if you use reusable nappies — the nappy bucket is even more of a hazard than the bowl, as your child could easily climb into it. Since it has high sides, it’s hard to climb back out.

‘Innocent items’

Putting known toxic substances such as bleach into a locked cupboard is ideal, but what about everyday items you don’t see as dangerous?

Many children under five end up in hospital each year for suspected poisoning, with household products being the major cause.

Take your child to hospital immediately if you suspect she has ingested something dangerous.

Keep liquids in their original containers and don’t put car oil in a soda bottle, because if it gets into the child’s hands, it will be a disaster.

Belts and dangling cords

The pull cords on window blinds and curtains are another everyday hazard. Left dangling, the cord presents a hazard, so make sure you tie the cord so it’s completely out of reach of your baby, or have it permanently shortened.

Gown belts and regular belts with buckles are also hazards, so always tidy up and never leave accessories lying around.

Tidying up is one of the best forms of accident prevention.

Household appliances

A major accident hotspot for crawling babies or toddlers is the kitchen. To assess the degree of danger, sit on the floor in your kitchen and look around from your child’s viewpoint.

What will she be interested in? Can she climb into that cupboard? Crawl under that surface? Reach that lead?

Once you’ve identified all the potential hazards you can incorporate appropriate safety measures. If you can, fit a pressure-mounted gate across the kitchen doorway to keep your baby out when you’re cooking. And look out for your child climbing into the washing machine or deep freezer.

Smaller objects

Many children are rushed to hospital or even die every year because of choking. A child can choke from a small thing left lying around when she puts it in her mouth.

Other items that can cause chocking are loose buttons on coats and toys. Regardless of age recommendations, check toys are suitable for your baby and carry the relevant safety mark.

Hot drinks

A hot drink can still scald your baby up to 15 minutes after it has been poured, so never assume they’re safe and always keep them well out of reach.