While most people feel safe in and around their homes, there are a number of potentially unsafe situations or conditions that may exist. Some may be within the home.

For example, how safe is your child's nursery? Are you putting safety first when working with electricity? Do you practice good fire safety and prevention habits? When you are outside or away from home, are you aware of situations that could threaten your physical safety?

Inspection Associates, Inc. has included several articles with tips concerning home safety. We hope that you will read these articles and we plan to add more articles in the future.

Electrical Safety

1. When buying electrical equipment or appliances, always look for the Underwriters Laboratories seal of approval and make sure it applies to the entire appliance, not just the plug or cord.
   
2. When working outside, avoid contact with overhead power lines or exposed wires. Be careful when installing CB antennas or towers. Improperly installed antennas might topple and cause power outages, injuries, and even death.
   
3. Check all extension and appliance cords frequently to be sure they are not worn or frayed. If they are, replace them immediately. Don't patch a broken cord.
   
4. Do not place electrical cords so they run through doorways or under carpets.
   
5. Do not plug power tools or heavy appliances into a lamp socket. Plug them into a wall outlet. Lamp cords are not made to carry a heavy electrical load.
   
6. Do not pull a plug from a wall outlet by the cord. Grasp the plug itself and pull it straight out.
   
7. Do not leave irons or other heating appliances plugged in when not in use or when no one is present.
   
8. If you have doubts about appliance grounding, cord sizes, or other electrical questions, check with a licensed electrician.
   
9. Be sure that tools and appliances are properly grounded. A three-prong plug used in a two-wire receptacle must have an adapter. Connect the "pigtail" wire on the adapter to the metal screw on the outlet cover plate to get grounding protection. Never use a tool or appliance with a two-wire connection outdoors or in a damp location.
   
10. Water conducts electricity. Be careful when you are using electrical appliances near water. Do not touch an electrical switch while your hands are damp. No electrical cord or appliance should be handled while in water.
    
11. Improper handling of electrical appliances can cause fire. Don't let wires overheat. Disconnect if there are any sparks. All electrical wires are designed to carry only a certain amount of electricity. Overloading them causes them to overheat, gradually destroys the insulation, and can create a hazard. Turn off any appliance that smokes or stops running.
    
12. To prevent overheating, make sure the cord is large enough to carry the electricity necessary to operate the tool or appliance. Heavy-duty extension cords should be used with portable tools and other heavy-duty appliances--never ordinary lamp cords.
    
13. Fly kites only in open fields, away from electric wires. Do not use wire, metal or wet string on a kite. If your kite catches in a wire or on a high pole, don't try to remove it--call your electric utility. Don't use metal in making a kite. Don't fly kites on or near a public highway. Don't fly a kite in wet or stormy weather.
    
14. Never touch, kick, pull or attempt to pick up a fallen wire. Even a telephone wire could be deadly if tangled with a power line some distance away. Notify your electric utility and keep other people away until utility repair people arrive. 

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS - Answer Yes or No

Does every room have enough electrical outlets to avoid the need for multiple attachment plugs?

Does your home have special circuits for heavy duty appliances such as ranges and washing machines?

Do you use fuses no larger than 15 amps for your household lighting circuits?

If you use extension cords, are they in good condition, and are they out in the open rather than under rugs, over hooks, or through door openings and partitions?

Is there ample air circulation around your television set and stereo equipment?

Are all your electrical appliances, small and large, listed by Underwriters Laboratories?

Do your cooking appliances and electric iron have heat-limit controls?

Are the motors of your large appliances and power tools cleaned and oiled regularly?

Do you refrain from wrapping cords around a hot appliance?

Do you ever use more than one high-wattage appliance on an outlet at a time?

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS - Answer Yes or No

Are your kitchen stove, oven, and rotisserie kept clean of grease?

Do you always place rags covered with oil or paint in closed metal cans after you use them?

If you store paints, solvents, waxes, etc., are they in tightly closed cans, away from heat, flames, and sparks?

Do you use gasoline, benzene, or any other flammable fluid for cleaning clothes, furnishings, or floors?

Is it a rule in your home never to start a fire in a fireplace, stove, or furnace with a flammable liquid?

Do you keep ashes from fireplace, stove, or furnace in a metal container away from combustible materials, and dispose of them frequently?

If you have a woodworking shop, do you clean up scrap wood and sawdust after each job?

HEATING HAZARDS - Answer Yes or No

Do you have the entire heating system (including burner, flue pipes, chimney, and vents) inspected, cleaned, and repaired by a professional service each year?

Is your heating system a type listed by Underwriters Laboratories or, if gas-fired, by the American Gas Association Laboratories?

Nursery Safety

Nursery Equipment Checklist
FROM: THE SAFE NURSERY. A BOOKLET TO HELP AVOID INJURIES FROM NURSERY FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT
U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, FEBRUARY 1988

Back Carriers

1. Carrier has restraining strap to secure child.
   
2. Leg openings are small enough to prevent child from slipping out.
   
3. Leg openings are large enough to prevent chafing.
   
4. Frames have no pinch points in the folding mechanism.
   
5. Carrier has padded covering over metal frame near baby's face.
   

Bassinets and Cradles

1. Bassinet/Cradle has a sturdy bottom and a wide base for stability.
   
2. Bassinet/Cradle has smooth surfaces with no protruding staples or other hardware that could injure a baby.
   
3. Legs have strong, effective locks to prevent folding while in use.
   

Carrier Seats

1. Carrier seat has a wide, sturdy base for stability.
   
2. Carrier has non-skid feet to prevent slipping.
   
3. Supporting devices lock securely.
   
4. Carrier seat has crotch and waist strap.
   
   
5. Buckle or strap is easy to use.
   

Changing Tables

1. Table has safety straps to prevent falls.
   
2. Table has drawers or shelves that are easily accessible without leaving the baby unattended.
   

Cribs

1. 1. Slats are spaced no more than 2-3/8 inches apart.
   
2. No slats are missing or cracked.
   
3. Mattress fits snugly; less than two fingers width between edge of mattress and crib side.
   
4. Mattress support is securely attached to the head and footboards.
   
5. Comer posts are no higher than 5/8 of an inch to prevent entanglement.
   
6. There are no cutouts in head and footboards to allow head entrapment.
   
7. A baby cannot easily release drop-side latches.
   
8. Drop-side latches securely hold sides in raised position.
   
9. All screws or bolts, which secure components of crib together, are present and tight.
   

Crib Toys

1. Crib toys have no strings longer than twelve inches to prevent entanglement.
   
2. Crib gym or other crib toy suspended over the crib must have devices that securely fasten to the crib to prevent it from being pulled into the crib.
   
3. Components of toys are not small enough to be a choking hazard.
   

Gates and Enclosures

1. Gate or enclosure has a straight top edge.
   
2. Openings in gate are too small to entrap a child's head.
   
3. Gate has a pressure bar or other fastener so it will resist forces exerted by a child.
   

High Chairs

1. High chair has restraining straps that are independent of the tray.
   
2. Tray locks securely.
   
3. Buckle on waist strap is easy to fasten and unfasten.
   
4. High chair has a wide base for stability.
   
5. High chair has caps or plugs on tubing that are firmly attached and cannot be pulled off and choke a child.
   
6. If it is a folding high chair, it has an effective locking device.
   

Hook-On Chairs

1. Chair has a restraining strap to secure the child.
   
2. Chair has a clamp that locks onto the table for added security.
   
3. Hook-on chair has caps or plugs on tubing that are firmly attached and cannot be pulled off and choke a child.
   
4. Hook-on chair has a warning never to place chair where child can push off with his feet.
   

Pacifiers

1. Pacifier has no ribbons, string, cord, or yam attached.
   
2. Shield is large enough and firm enough so it cannot fit in child's mouth.
   
3. Guard or shield has ventilation holes so baby can breathe if shield does get into mouth.
   
4. Pacifier nipple has no holes or tears that might cause it to break off in baby's mouth.
   

Playpens

1. Drop-side mesh playpen or mesh crib has warning label about never leaving a side in the down position.
   
2. Playpen mesh has small weave (less than ¼ inch openings).
   
3. Mesh has no tears or loose threads.
   
4. Mesh is securely attached to top rail and floorplate.
   
5. Top rail has no tears or holes.
   
6. Wooden playpen has slats spaced no more than 2-3/8 inches apart.
   
7. If staples are used in construction, they are firmly installed and none missing, or loose.
   

Rattles/Squeeze Toys/Tethers

1. Rattles and tethers have handles too large to lodge in baby's throat.
   
2. Rattles have sturdy construction that will not cause them to break apart in use.
   
3. Squeeze toys do not contain a squeaker that could detach and choke a baby.

 

Strollers

1. Stroller has a wide base to prevent tipping.
   
2. Seat belt and crotch strap arc securely attached to frame.
   
3. Seat belt buckle is easy to fasten and unfasten.
   
4. Brakes securely lock the wheel(s).
   
5. Shopping basket low on the back and located directly over or in front of rear wheels.

 

Toy Chests

1. Toy chest has no latch to entrap child within the chest.
   
2. Toy chest has a spring-loaded lid support that will not require periodic adjusunent and will support the lid in any position to prevent lid slam.
   
3. Chest has ventilation holes or spaces in front or sides, or under lid.

Walkers

1. Walker has a wide wheelbase for stability.
   
2. Walker has plastic sleeves over coil springs to avoid cuts.
   
3. Seat is securely attached to frame of walker.
   
4. There are no X-frames that could pinch.