In France, today, there are 1,700,000 domestic accidents involving children under 15 years of age per year, or 5000,<> accidents per day. Safety rules must be transmitted very early. Here's what to teach your kids.
What are the safety rules for young children at home?
From 3 years old, your child is old enough to understand the basic safety rules.
Put away your toys so you don't trip over them and get hurt, don't open the front door alone if it rings, learn to open a lock... In addition to these basics, here are 8 important rules to teach them in preventing a domestic accident.
- Do not climb furniture
If your child likes to climb to grab objects from closets, for example, explain that climbing furniture can be very dangerous and that he can hurt himself if he falls. Let them know that there are other ways to have fun and work out without taking unnecessary risks of falls.
- Use sharp objects with caution
Knives, scissors, and other sharp kitchen utensils are dangerous. Show your child, if they are old enough to use knives, how to handle them carefully. Teach them to always do it under adult supervision. On a daily basis, avoid leaving sharp objects within reach of children.
- Pay attention to slippery ground
Teach children to walk carefully and slowly on slippery floors, with small strides and avoiding sudden movements. Also encourage them to wear slippers or non-slip shoes at home to avoid slipping.
You can also install non-slip mats in children's passage areas such as hallways, bathrooms and kitchens.
- Be careful when going up or down stairs
Inform your children of the risks of falling when going up or down stairs. They must know how to take their time and hold the ramp. Teaching them to turn on the light is also a good reflex if the switch is within their reach.
- Do not touch electrical appliances
Your offspring should understand that they should not touch electrical appliances with wet hands or feet to prevent electrocution. Also teach them not to play with electrical outlets or electrical wires. For your part, wind the cords and put them out of their access and remember to cover the sockets with safety plugs as a prevention.
- Don't play with fire
Warn your child not to play with matches, lighters or other sources of fire. Specify that the fire can be dangerous and cause serious injury or burns and that it must be kept away from the stove (remember not to leave pan handles accessible when they are on the fire) from the oven, chimney or stove.
- Do not touch household products
Tell children not to touch cleaning products, gardening chemicals and medications. Let them know that these are products that can be dangerous and that they should be handled with care. Also, remember to store them in shelves out of reach of your child.
- Know what to do in an emergency
Children need to know what to do in case of an emergency, such as calling for help (teach them on the 15th and 18th for example) or getting out of the house safely in case of fire.
Think about potentially dangerous situations and talk to your child about them before they happen. While it is important to set basic safety rules with him, it is also important to follow them yourself to set an example and help him understand them.
What are the safety rules for teenagers?
Teens are more independent and may find themselves having to make important decisions for their own safety. See with them these few points to ensure their home safety.
- Avoid risky behaviours
Teens need to understand the risks associated with certain behaviours, such as drug and alcohol use, inappropriate use of social media (teach them not to disclose any personal information online to avoid burglaries). Encourage them to make informed decisions and ban these risky behaviours in your home and out of the home.
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- Extinguish a fire if necessary
Demonstrate to your teen how to use a fire extinguisher and train them to cover a fire with a cloth or blanket to smother it.
- Turn off water and electricity if necessary
Where are the shut-off valves for water? Where is the circuit breaker for electricity? Show them how to turn off water and electricity in an emergency (flood, power outage, etc.).
- Arm and disarm the security system
If the house is equipped with a security system, show your teens how to turn it on and disarm it properly. If the alarm system goes off, it is important that they know how to react.
In accident prevention, discuss these safety rules with your children and explain why they are important. By teaching them how to avoid hazards and react if something goes wrong, you can help keep them safe at home.