Secure your home and protect your child

Parents often wonder how to protect their children from abuse, violence or kidnapping. Many forget that the threats to the heaviest of our little darlings are under our roof!

A finding in France

In France, nearly 200 children under 4 years of age die every year in a domestic accident, nearly 4 per week!
Falls are responsible for most accidents of everyday life not death. For small less than 1 year parts most at risk are: bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Between 1 and 4 years, most accidents occur in the kitchen and the living room.

Do not wait for an accident before thinking about safety in your home. With careful planning and very little equipment, you can prepare home to great explorations of your child.


There are more and more objects "child safety" in the trade. Above all, it is your monitoring tool will be the best security for your home. And even if your house is full of protective equipment, you should always remain alert to potential hazards.
If you are not sure you always take baby in your arms when you answer the phone or if someone rings the doorbell.

Make a point security

Some safety tips are valid for all parts of the house.

Here are some recommendations:

• Ask outlet covers on all unused electrical outlets. Allow multiple sockets to switch to "off".
• Ask protect corners and foam adhesive on the corners or edges protruding furniture, such as tables or desks.
• Keep in mind the potential danger of anything you can throw it in the trash. If you dispose of batteries, paper clips, plastic bags or other hazards, place the trash out of reach or in a closed cupboard that your child can not open.
• Keep pens, pencils, letter openers, staplers, paper clips and other sharp or pointed instrument in a locked drawer.
• Home fires are one of the most serious risks to children. Fires are often caused by children playing with matches or lighters. In France, a home fire breaks out every 2 minutes. 14% of fires are started by children. More information Fire Prevention

If you have a fireplace, keep a fire extinguisher nearby, and have it serviced regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not place on the mantelpiece objects that might attract your child, so it does not try to catch them. It is essential to have a firewall installed in front of the fireplace when children are in the house. Choose a very wide and can be wall mounted on both sides of the fireplace so that your child is protected from burns. It is mandatory to sweep the chimney insert or chimney 1-2 times per year to prevent soot ignite. Ragnez matches and lighters out of the sight and reach of children. Turn your cigarettes properly and discard butts (do not let them in the ashtray). Be careful to extinguish the candles or room inside and never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle. Always plan an escape route in case of fire, and practice in "fire drills" with your family. Choose smoke detectors that meet the European standard EN 14604. Whether they are certified by the European Union, look for the letters "CE". This symbol can be completed by the initials "NC" means that the product has quality certification to additional mandatory minimum safety standards. Install smoke detectors in every room and next to the kitchen. Check them monthly to make sure they work well, and change the batteries once a year. The installation of a smoke detector reduces the risk of death by fire.

• Avoid curtains or blinds with curtain hanging, ropes or cords. Son these pendants can be due to strangulation. If you're already on the ropes wrap themselves and fix them up, out of reach of your child.
• Ask colored stickers on large glass surfaces, such as windows, to prevent them from being "invisible": a child may be hit very easily. Place blocks windows on the lower windows so that they can not open more than 10 cm. Do not place furniture or seats under the windows, so that your child is not tempted to climb over to get to the window.
• Place non-skid pads under the carpet does not already have anti-skid system.
• Use safety gates and locks doors. Installing a barrier upstairs, and another three-step lower. It will prevent your small to climb to the top to discover that it is actually stuck in the stairs. Remember that security must evolve along with your child: an impenetrable barrier for a small 1 year can become a structure to climb when he was 2 years old.
• Never let things drag on the stairs, they could make someone fall. The stairs must be carefully maintained: any damaged carpet or peeling should be reattached or removed. Make sure railings are strong enough and can not be used as steps for baby. Stairs should always be well lit.
• Each year, hundreds of children are treated in emergency departments for pediatric injuries caused by falls. When baby begins to crawl, Install safety barriers so that it can not go in rooms prohibited.
• Hide lamps and electrical cables and son behind heavy furniture or store them in special tubes designed for this purpose. High lights could be reversed if baby pulls on the wire, then shim them well behind furniture.
• Think of all those things that can get your fingers caught, as ironing boards, door hinges and folding chairs. You can buy blocks-openings.
• Keep first aid kit in a locked cabinet, out of reach of children. Make sure babysitters and other adults know where to find emergency. Make sure your home is presents no risk of intoxication or poisoning to protect your children from the risk of ingestion or exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Burns and scalds are more common in young children than in older children and adults. Most burns are caused by hot liquids that spill. Remember that hot drinks are enough "boiling" to burn a child 15 minutes after being served. Never give a hot drink to a woman in breastfeeding. Even a single drop of fuming liquid could burn the mother and baby.

For more information, see the following websites:

• Fire prevention, the Ministry of Ecology, Energy and Sustainable Development.
• Stop accidents everyday.
• Domestic accidents.