{"id":11900,"date":"2015-04-25T13:05:39","date_gmt":"2015-04-25T21:05:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blindsgalore.com\/blog\/?p=11900"},"modified":"2026-03-23T11:04:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:04:51","slug":"10-hidden-dangers-home-50-ways-keep-kids-safer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blindsgalore.com\/blog\/index.php\/beyond-basics\/10-hidden-dangers-home-50-ways-keep-kids-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Hidden Dangers in Your Home: 50 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your home should be the safest haven for your children. At least, in our own homes, we can be vigilant and mindful of any potential dangers lurking to harm our curious and fragile youngsters.\u00a0 Even though we, as parents, have the best intentions in maintaining a safe home, numerous hidden dangers can be overlooked. In a few precious minutes our idyllic, safe home can turn into an unfortunate and harmful place. Let’s be overly careful at home as our hectic lives can lead us to be remiss in securing peace and safety.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget, corded window blinds and shades pose a safety hazard in all home with small children or pets. Let us help you find a child-safe, cordless option that perfectly matches your decor.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Home: A Statistical Danger Zone<\/h2>\n

Although it\u2019s hard to believe that your home could be dangerous, there is a wealth of statistical evidence that supports this concept. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that more than 9,000 children die each year from home-related accidents and injuries, with another 8.9 million being rushed to emergency rooms from these same occurrences. By examining the most dangerous areas of the home, as well as the most common causes of death and serious injury, you can eliminate the possibility of these outcomes in your home.<\/p>\n

We care about you and your loved ones, and in an effort to help you recognize potential threats to your family\u2019s safety, we\u2019ve developed a comprehensive resource that will help you safeguard your family against unknown threats. From window coverings to electrical outlet maintenance, here are 50 ways to keep your home safe and secure for you and your children.<\/p>\n

1. Magnets<\/h4>\n

Recently, 19-month-old Annaka Chafin swallowed seven small magnetic balls from her brother\u2019s toy necklace. The magnets connected to one another in her bowels, causing a perforation, which went septic. She did not survive this preventable injury (Jayne O\u2019Donnell, \u201cCPSC May Ban Tiny Magnets That Killed a Child<\/a>,\u201d USA Today<\/i>).<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics<\/i><\/a> cited over 2,700 visits to the emergency room for children who had ingested magnets. This is triple the number of these types of magnet-related incidences in the previous decade.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/i><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Remove all small magnets from your child\u2019s playroom.<\/b>
\n\u2022\u00a0Keep any refrigerator magnets out of the reach of children. <\/b>Even alphabet magnets can be pulled out of their plastic coverings and ingested.
\n\u2022\u00a0Use flat magnetic strip-style magnets whenever possible.<\/b> These are much weaker than square or round magnets and are more difficult to ingest.
\n\u2022\u00a0High-powered magnets are the real danger.<\/b> Keep them out of reach (and out of sight) and teach children they are only for use with an adult present.<\/p>\n

2. Button or Coin Batteries<\/h4>\n

\"Source:<\/p>\n

Source: US CPSC<\/a>A recent introduction into toy manufacturing is the addition of small coin-style batteries. These batteries can easily be eaten by children, which is then broken down by the acids inside their stomachs, causing deadly alkaline poisoning. Over the last decade, the number of coin-battery ingestions has increased by 900%, leading to over 2,700 emergency room visits and numerous deaths (\u201cInjuries From Batteries Among Children <13 \u2013 1995-2010<\/a>,\u201d CDC).<\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/i><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Recognize electronic devices that use coin-style batteries.<\/b> Keep them out of reach of children unless an adult is present. Some of the most common are:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Singing greeting cards
\n\u2022\u00a0Remote controls
\n\u2022\u00a0Watches
\n\u2022\u00a0Hearing aids
\n\u2022\u00a0Digital scales
\n\u2022\u00a0Thermometers
\n\u2022\u00a0Calculators
\n\u2022\u00a0Children\u2019s toys
\n\u2022\u00a0Light up buttons<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Use thick tape to cover up battery areas where coin-batteries are housed.<\/b>
\n\u2022\u00a0Invest in adult-only battery access.<\/b> Purchase toys that have a coin-battery slot that is protected by screws to hold the casing in place.
\n\u2022\u00a0Lock loose batteries away or dispose of them properly.<\/b> Most batteries can be thrown away with the normal trash<\/a>.
\n\u2022\u00a0Don\u2019t store used batteries together.<\/b> Some of them may have a small charge left, and could connect with other batteries to cause electrical fires.<\/p>\n

3. Swimming Pool Toys<\/h4>\n

While you might be aware of the drowning danger that a swimming pool presents to your family, you might not know how dangerous pool toys themselves can be. Pool toys can be an attraction to small children, especially when left around a pool that is unsupervised. In addition, many parents use toys like \u201cwater-wings,\u201d \u201cnoodles,\u201d or \u201cinner tubes\u201d as water safety devices, which are not rated to save a child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/i><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Put away securely any water toys immediately after pool use.<\/b>
\n\u2022\u00a0Purchase and use a safety-rated life vest for children who don\u2019t know how to swim.<\/b>
\n\u2022\u00a0Never allow a child to use a \u201cnoodle,\u201d or other water flotation toys unless they know how to swim.<\/b>
\n\u2022\u00a0Erect a barrier<\/b> around your pool so that small children can\u2019t get in without an adult.
\n\u2022\u00a0Don\u2019t let swimmers hyperventilate before holding their breath underwater.<\/b> This can cause an underwater blackout that can lead to drowning.<\/p>\n

4. Window Blinds<\/a><\/h4>\n
\n