Hidden Dangers Inside The Home

We worry so much about keeping our children safe, but we often miss these hidden dangers inside the home. But it really only takes a little extra time and effort to address them all.

I’ll admit – when I had my first daughter, Hannah, I figured that as long as we put covers on all of the outlets, had cabinet locks on most of the doors and got her a Britax car seat, we would be pretty set.

But it wasn’t until I read an article from a mother who was “remembering the anniversary” of the day her little girl had been killed years prior when a dresser toppled over on her. (read it here)

and I realized…

I wasn’t protecting my little girls with outlet covers and cabinet locks. I was missing some of the easiest to see yet easiest to ignore safety rules in my own home.

From that moment, as I read that article and tears streamed down, I realized that for all my worrying about what might happen to my kids OUTSIDE the home was pointless if I didn’t protect them INSIDE it first.

8 HIDDEN DANGERS LURKING IN YOUR HOME

1.Secure All Furniture To The Walls

Is this a pain? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I know if my girls are playing in any room in our house, I can rest assured they won’t pull a dresser or a nightstand over on themselves. These are the ones my husband used and he was completely finished in one day.

2. Clean Out Your Dryer Vents

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fires are sparked every year by clothes dryers. It is so simple to clean out your lint trap every load or two. And once a year, we have a professional come in to clean the entire vent system.

3. Test Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors

You should be testing these once a month and replacing the batteries twice a year (we do ours when we “fall back” and “spring forward.”

4. Secure Your TV’s

Flat screen tv’s are certainly soooo much more cool than those humongous box/furniture tv’s I had in the 80’s as a kid. But what we’ve gained in clarity and pixels, we have lost in safety. It takes zero strength to pull one of these tv’s over.

5. Lock Up Your Weapons

If you want a gun in your house, that is absolutely your choice and your right. But with that right comes the responsibility of keeping it away from little hands. Your firearm should be locked up, out of sight with the key hidden. And the bullets should be kept somewhere else completely.

6. Protect Your Stairs

My husband is notorious for wanting to stack folded laundry or cleaning supplies next to the stairs. But do you know what happens when that stack gets left there over night and a scared 4 year old comes bumbling out of her room at 3 am? That’s right…she falls right over that stack.

7. Inspect for Mold And Allergens

For those who suffer from allergies and asthma, like my daughter, mold and mildew can pose significant health hazards.

Air needs to circulate in a home, but if moisture becomes trapped, mold and mildew can grow.

Mold and mildew can be eradicated by removing the source of the moisture. This could be as simple as using a dehumidifier or a professional may need to be called in.

And perhaps the most important one…

8. OTHER PEOPLE’S HOMES

It is wonderful and important for you to keep your OWN home safe for your children. But if you let your children have playdates at friend’s homes, spend the night with your parents or stay in child care…and you haven’t checked for these same dangers, then they are still susceptible to these hidden dangers.

For example, do you know if your child’s best friend’s home has a gun in it? Is it locked up?

Is your mom’s furniture mounted to the wall? If not, will she be watching your child constantly?

I know it seems overzealous but it only takes one simple mistake to hurt, or cause death, to your child.

It’s worth it to spend an extra day strapping down furniture or feeling a little uncomfortable asking your daughter’s friends about guns in the home…because I know I would never forgive myself if I could have prevented an accident with a small amount of effort.