How to Develop a Safe Environment for Children

Having a child, or babysitting one, means taking the steps necessary to develop an environment that is kid-friendly. Many health and safety hazards pervade home and school environments, and could become fatal to children if not properly managed. As such, familiarize yourself with the items that pose a danger to children, and then identify the steps you can take to eliminate them. A safe environment for kids will keep them healthy and happy.

Instructions

• 1

  Lock up your chemicals. That includes cleaning agents, nail polish, makeup remover, laundry detergent and deodorizers, even the ones that claim to be eco-friendly. All chemical products should be maintained in an area that cannot be reached by the children. You can keep them inside a locked medicine cabinet or box somewhere children cannot access it.

• 2

  Keep a tidy floor. The floor is a child's play area, and if your floor is dirty then the child is coming into contact with all the germs trailed in from your shoes or pets. Additionally, a floor that is cluttered with random small objects is unsafe because the objects could end up in the child's throat, and cause a choking hazard. Clean up all spills and vacuum and mop the floor regularly.

• 3

  Put away electrical wires and cords. Children can mistake wires and cords for toys and grow interested in yanking on them, which can lead to a serious accident. Electrical wires and cords also pose an electrocution and shock hazard. Along these lines, you must cover empty outlets to prevent children from sticking their fingers into the sockets.

• 4

  Use lead-free paints if you have any upcoming painting projects, or make sure the paint you have on the walls now is lead-free. If it isn't, have the paint stripped and redone with a lead-free product. If a child accidentally swallows a paint chip that contains lead, it could have toxic effects.

• 5

  Keep the environment properly illuminated by having ceiling lights or lamps in each room. Dark hallways or rooms make it easy for children to stumble, trip and fall.

• 6

  Install smoke detectors and fire alarms. Test them routinely to make sure they work, and you might even consider having a sprinkler system installed if you are building your own home.

• 7

  Build a gate around the pool, and keep it locked at all times. Fatal drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional deaths for children between one and 14 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• 8

  Don't leave hazardous objects around the environment, such as scissors, nail clippers, pocket knives, burning candles, matches or pills and vitamins.

• 9

  Cover sharp edges with rubber bumpers so that children do not hurt themselves on furniture.

• 10

  Use baby gates to block off areas of the environment that children should not have access to, such as the laundry room or home office.