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YOUR SUMMER
HOME
Kid
Proofing Your Second Home
There isn’t
a homeowner with children who hasn’t gone
through the process of safety proofing the
house. Gates, cabinet locks and a myriad other
safety measures are standard in any home with
kids.
But what about the summer home, where you spend
just a few months each year? Have the same
precautions been taken there? Or maybe you have
grandkids who visit you during the summer. Ever
gone through the house and identified potential
hazards? It’s easy to become paranoid and see
them around every corner, but in reality a few
simple, common sense safety measures can provide
you with invaluable peace of mind.
Here’s a brief guide to help child-proof your
home:
Electrical outlets. Outlet covers are
inexpensive and easy to put in and take out.
Blanket the house with them before the kids
arrive, then remove them until the next visit.
Blind cords. These can be a choking or
strangulation hazard. Eliminate looped cords,
and install tie-down devices. An easy fix is to
install a small cup hook near the top of the
shade and wrap the cord around this when the
shade is up.
Drawer stoppers. Inserts are available to keep
curious hands out of drawers with potential
dangerous contents.
Cabinet locks. A variety of devices are
available to keep kids out of kitchen and
bathroom cabinets. They range from lock-type
fasteners that go on the outside to catches that
prevent doors from opening more than a little
bit; enough for an adult to unhook the catch,
but not enough for kids to get inside.
Gates. Gates should be used if kids in the
crawling and early toddler stage are present.
The most secure affix permanent to a wall.
Others operate by pressure and can be easily
removed or transferred from room to room. Make
sure these are secured tightly as per
instructions. Otherwise, they can be dislodged
by kids leaning against them are rattling the
bars.
Door knob covers. These keep older kids from
gaining entrance where you don’t want them.
Corner bumpers. Handy for fireplace hearths and
pointy coffee tables.
Don’t forget to have a good first aid kit
available. Check out the
American Red
Cross to learn what to have on hand, or to
purchase a kit. Other helpful websites for
safety proofing your home include the
National Fire
Protection Agency and the
Window
Covering Safety Council. The Consumer
Products Safety Commission also has a great page
that gives a concise rundown of
“12 Safety Devices To Protect Your Home.”
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