Home Safety

CONCERN

NURSE TO DO

FAMILY TO DO

Renovation / remodeling

■    See “Age of Home” above.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    See “Age of Home” above.

■    If the home was built pre-1978 and there is a child less than six years old:

o     get a lead paint inspection or risk assessment.

o     repair any lead hazards based on state and local regulations and requirements.  Consult with state CLPPP.

■    If the home was built pre-1978 and there is no child less than six years old:

o     consult with the CLPPP at your state and local departments of health about lead-safe renovation.

o     Change behaviors, such as modifying dust generating techniques and containing the work area.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Stairs, walls, railings, porches, lighting

■    If family owns home, then counsel to change behaviors, such as making minor repairs to fix loose railings.

■    If family rents home, then counsel them to talk with their landlord.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    If homeowner, then make necessary repairs.

■    If renter, then talk with your landlord about needed repairs.  Consider calling the local board of health for possible code violations.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

■    Provide national poison control number 800-222-1222 to family. 

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Family fire escape plan

■    Counsel to change behaviors, such as develop a family safety plan.

■    Get more fire safety information at www.usa.safekids.org

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Develop a family safety plan.

■    Need to know two ways out of the house.

■    Need to have a place to meet after you are outside the house.

■    Teach children the family safety plan for escaping your home in a fire and practice it

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Electrical appliances

■    Counsel to change behavior. 

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Do not use electrical appliances near water.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Matches and lighters

■    Counsel to change behavior. 

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Do not store matches and lighters where children can reach them.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Exterior environment

■    If abundant trash and debris, counsel family about waste management.

■    If waste containment is the problem, counsel family to talk with landlord.

■    See “Infestations” above.

■    If the home was built pre-1978, contact the childhood lead poisoning prevention program (CLPPP) at your state and local departments of health for information about chipping, peeling paint.  See “Age of Home” above.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    See “Infestations” above.

■    See “Age of Home” above.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Child Safety

Hot liquids / cleaning supplies / medicines

■    Counsel to change behaviors. 

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■   Do not have hot liquids, cleaning supplies, or medicines within a child’s reach.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Lead testing for children less than 6 years old

■    If the home was built pre-1978, counsel the family to have the child’s blood tested for lead.

■    See “Age of Home” above.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Contact the childhood lead poisoning prevention program (CLPPP) at your state and local departments of health about lead testing resources.

■    See “Age of Home” above.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Child watched by an adult while in tub

■    Counsel to change behavior. 

■    Educate family about importance of not leaving children unattended in the tub.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Do not leave children unattended in the tub.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Hot water temperature

■    Educate family about dangers of scalding.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■     Set hot water temperature to <120 F

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Toddler gates

■    Counsel family to install non-accordion toddler gates at the top and bottom of stairways.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Contact local injury prevention program to determine whether there are toddler gate resources available.

■    Install non-accordion toddler gates at the top and bottom of stairways.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Crib mattress

■    Counsel family that crib mattress should fit snugly next to the crib so that there is no gap.

■    If two adult fingers can be placed between the mattress and the crib, then counsel the family to immediately replace the mattress.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Put your baby to sleep in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath.

■    Ensure that your crib mattress fits snugly next to the crib so that there is no gap.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Window guards

■    Counsel family about window safety.

■    Contact local injury prevention program to determine whether there are window guard resources available.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Contact local injury prevention program to determine whether there are window guard resources available.

■    Install window guards.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: 

Window blind cords

■    Counsel family to keep window blind cords out of children’s reach and to purchase childproofing items for cord safety.

■    Review items in “Family To Do” column with family.

■    Keep window blind cords out of children’s reach

■    Purchase childproofing items for cord safety.

Will do actions listed above except: 

Will advise family as listed above except: