As we’re reminded of summer by the sun shining, birds chirping, and bees buzzing; Schaefer Inspection is reminding you its national safety month. Schaefer Inspection understands your family comes first and your home comes second. We’ve created a safety checklist for your home so the only thing you need to worry about is reapplying sunscreen on your kiddos. To make your life easier we’ve broken it down for you by category, happy safety month!

Batteries

Is your child a curious little thing? Well, like your child takes a part many of their toys, keep an eye out for small button batteries. Some items to watch out for are remote controls, watches, calculators, and hearing aids. A quick fix may be to put tape over the battery panel to prevent small children from accessing the battery.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from faulty furnaces, portable generators, water heaters, or clothes dryers. Young children are more susceptible to the effects of carbon monoxide because of their smaller bodies. Symptoms of carbon monoxide include headache, nausea and drowsiness.

• Your home should have a carbon monoxide alarm on every level, at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.
• Carbon monoxide alarms and fire alarms are not substitutes for each other, your home must have both.
• Don’t use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home, garage or near a window.

Guns

“It is estimated that about one third of households with children ages 18 and under have a gun in the home.” – safekids.org

Store guns in a locked location, unloaded, and out of the reach and sight of children. Ammunition should be stored in a separate locked location. Make sure the guns have child-resistant gun locks.

Medication

Now, you and I may be able to distinguish between medication and candy, but a child may not.

• Place medicine up and away, out of children’s reach and sight.
• Consider other products like vitamins, creams, eye drops, and hand sanitizer.

Poison

Store household products and cleaning solutions out of children’s sight and reach. (Don’t forget to remove items from underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks.) If you are storing items in an accessible area try using safety locks on cabinets. Some products to consider are makeup, personal care products, art supplies, and alcohol.

Furniture Tip-Overs

Although this may not be the first thing to come to mind, assessing the safety of furniture in your home is necessary. Assess the stability of TV’s in your home, possibly mount flat panel TVs to the wall, or place the TV’s on low stable furniture.

Schaefer Inspection wants the best for you and your family and hopes you found our tips useful. We understand you know how to child-proof items in your home, but, you may not know if your home is safe. Schedule a home inspection before buying a home to ensure it is safe and move in ready, call us and schedule at (800) 345-2776.