Child Safety Checklist

Child Safety Guide
  • Have you tested your hot water and turned the temperature of your water heater down to 120 Fahrenheit or lower to reduce the risk of burns and scalds?
  • Have your older children memorized your address and phone number?
  • Do you have a first-aid kit that is easily accessible and stocked with emergency items?
  • Have you installed UL-listed smoke alarms on every level of your home?
  • Do you test your smoke alarms once a month to make sure they are working, and replace the batteries every year?
  • Does your family practice a home fire escape plan at least twice a year?
  • Are all matches and lighters secured in a locked cabinet?
  • Have you installed a UL-listed carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in the hallway near bedrooms in your home?
  • Does your child stay at least three feet from the range at all times?
  • Do you keep all pot handles turned away from the edge of the range?
  • Do you test the temperature of your child's bath water to ensure it is below 120 Fahrenheit?
  • Have you installed child safety locks on cabinets where hazardous materials are stored?
  • Are dangerous household items, such as medicines, toxic bleaches, oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents, polishes, and waxes, stored in a locked cabinet?
  • Do you lock up all outside chemicals, especially pesticides, fertilizers and automotive fluids?
  • Do you use gasoline as a motor fuel only, and store it outside the home in a shed or garage?
  • Do dangerous household and outside products have child-resistant packaging?
  • Do you keep all plastic wrapping materials, including dry-cleaning bags, produce bags and trash bags, away from children?
  • Are you careful not to hang pictures, quilts or decorations containing ribbon or string on or over a crib?
  • Have you checked to make sure blind cords are not dangling low off windows and do not hang in a loop?
  • Have you placed furniture, including cribs and playpens, away from windows to prevent falls?
  • Are unused electrical outlets covered with safety caps?
  • If young children live in or visit your home, have you installed baby gates at the top and bottom of stairwells?
  • Do you practice "touch supervision" - keeping children within an arm's reach - around any standing water that could pose a drowning danger.
  • Have you examined nursery furnishings to be sure they are strong and secure?
  • Have you carefully examined toys and pacifiers and removed those with small or broken parts that could be lodged in a child's throat, ears or nose?
  • Do you keep small items including jewelry, buttons, safety pins, coins and small batteries away from children?
  • Have you checked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website to find out it your crib, toys or other home items have been recalled?