Suggestions for child-proofing your home

Thousands of home accidents occur annually. A large part of these accidents involve children. Trying to remove all potentially dangerous objects and situations can be difficult but the attempt must be made in order to better protect the safety of children. Here are some suggestions that may help to make your home safer.

---Put plastic guards on all furniture with sharp corners

---Keep mini-blind cords tied-up well above the reach of children

---Put safety latches on all cabinet drawers and doors

---Get poison symbol stickers from your local Poison Control Center and affix to all cleaners, chemicals that are stored in cabinets or on shelves. Teach children what these symbols mean.

---Carpet stairs to prevent slips and falls and install gates at the top of stairs for younger children.

---Keep appliances such as microwaves and toaster ovens out of reach of children

---When cooking, turn pot and skillet handles away from the front of the stove and teach children that the stove is off-limits

---Install anti-scald devices, which regulate temperature, on all faucets.

---Maintain a working smoke detector at all times. If your home has more than one floor, install one on each.

---Install non-locking doorknobs on doors to closets and basements or attics to prevent a child from accidentally lock himself in

---Use nightlights or touch lights in all hallways and near stairs to avoid trips and falls in darkness

---Before allowing children to play with new toys, check for loose parts that may be swallowed

---Lock away all medications, even aspirin, mouthwash and vitamins. Also put cosmetics and colognes out of reach since some may be toxic.

---Keep plastic of all kinds, including dry cleaner bags and grocery bags out of reach. These are suffocation hazards.

---Store lighters, matches and any other flammable liquids away from children. Be firm about children not playing with such objects.

---Practice the same safety measures in the garage as in the home. Store dangerous liquids, car care items, etc. carefully and out of reach.

---Keep sewing equipment such as needles, thimbles, buttons, scissors and pins away from children. Let the child know that these objects are not toys.

---Eliminate poisonous houseplants, such as philodendrons, from the home. Small children may chew on leave or try to eat these plants.

---Do not put heavy objects where they might fall over on a child. If possible, bolt these items to walls or put on lower shelves.

---Know what your children are doing. Unsupervised children frequently get into dangerous situations out of curiosity or boredom. Check on your child frequently if not in the same room.

Even when taking many safety precautions, accidents can still happen. Keep the number of the local Poison Control Center near your phone at all times or program it into your telephone memory.