Holidays: How to keep your children safe at home

HOMES AND CONSTRUCTION

You would not want your child to resume school with burns or bruises on his or her body due to the failure of creating a safe environment for them.

Since they are curious, it can be a little hard to monitor children's every move. However, with some strategies, a parent can look-out for their safety.

Muhammad Nsereko, an architect at 3m design & construction says a home is not complete if it lacks safety elements mainly for the children.

 "Safety of the occupants (more so child's) should be planned ahead of time. The homeowners can seek guidance from their architects, interior designers, and landscapers while work is still in progress," he explains.

Bernadette Kizito, an interior designer at Zenas interiors said child proofing starts with the technical personals we use, so to prevent future hazards, homeowners should go for qualified technicians. 

For instance, electrical wiring should be done in a way that no loose wire is left hanging, and for carpentry work, one should opt for the round type instead of the edged furniture. 

Install window guards

 
Wet rooms

Nsereko explains that in slippery areas such as bathrooms, laundry room and kitchen, mat or non-slip tiles are the perfect choices for the floor as they will prevent slips and falls.

Children are curious and adventurous; it might be hard stopping them from accessing the wet areas. He says a childproof cover on door-handles will help limit their access to the wet areas.

"Parents should make it a point to incorporate a nonslip rubber mat in the bathroom to prevent children from falling," he says.

Kizito advises parents to incorporate a fence around the swimming pool in case they have any. Plus, they should install a pool alarm to alert them in case the pool area is accessed.

The staircases

Because children are prone to falling on the stairs. Kizito advises parents to install rough flooring which avoids slips. Stair-to-stair carpeting will also deter falls.

However, she states that if a child has a respiratory-related condition, thin rugs are the best choice because they have no fur.

"Safety guards such as handrails on the stairs and balconies staircase will protect children from falling over," she adds.

The grass is safer for children while playing than concrete

 
Windows

Nsereko explains that windows can be dangerous if not well protected, mostly the upper-story windows.  He, therefore, advises parents to shield them with firmly attached window guards like iron bars.

Outdoors

A paved or concrete flooring is the right choice for outdoor but in case of an accident, a child can be badly hurt.

Kizito is of the view that parents should mix the concrete floor with a lawn as a way of limiting accidents.   

"One can choose to create them a safe play corner to deter them from playing in dangerous places," she says.