Top 5 Safety Tips for Parents from the Emergency Repair Team at Glass Now
Everything is ‘as safe as houses’ they say. But any parent will tell you, the moment your child starts crawling – everything in your home becomes a potential hazard!
We’ve created this list to keep your family safe.
Our whole business is glass. Emergency glass replacement is what we do. So we know exactly the sort of dangers and safety issues families and businesses on the Gold Coast and Brisbane face every day.
That’s why we’ve created this list. It might be something you want to tick off as you cast your eye around your home. Better to be safe than sorry, so let’s help you sleep a little better at night.
Okay, it seems obvious, but…
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Move things away from windows and ledges!
Yes, the bed looks beautiful under there. Or ‘they can watch the stars and birds from there while they lie in their crib’. But, it is the highest risk of having something or heaven forbid, someone, fall out. The statistics were too high to want to repeat them here, but you get the idea, kids fall out of windows and die every year. So…let’s move beds, chairs, bookcases, ottomans, ANYTHING CLIMBABLE away from the windows please.
Play and exploration should be encouraged and are healthy developmental processes of the brain. I’m sure we all know that there’s no stopping a curious child, no matter what we do. It’s important to create safe spaces that enable freedom and expression without having to wrap them in bubble wrap.
(Source: Firstmomsclub.in)
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Educate Your Kids.
There are potential hazards in all different areas of our homes. It’s not just the garage where the tools are kept or the poisons in the laundry cupboard. Walk your kids through things around your home and educate them from a young age. Teach them the potential hazards of heights, how glass can break, why we leave things locked or closed, to be careful when playing near certain furniture and edges.
We want them to be free to play and enjoy their homes. It’s not about scaring them. We want them to be aware. Educating your kids empowers them with knowledge and builds their common sense muscle. And to be totally honest, it helps us worry less. The sooner we get our kids to grow and think proactively, critically and with kindness, the sooner the world around us becomes a safer place. Let’s make sure kids are mindful when playing near glass and the many other hazardous things around the home. It’s never too early to start explaining some little hints to those sponge like brains.
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Curtain Cords are not skipping ropes.
It’s so easy to see little things like curtain cords as innocent string, but you don’t want to know the risks these ‘harmless’ things present. They are not the perfect bungee cord for Master Three’s action figures. They are a potential hazard that can be quickly and simply avoided. Cordless window coverings are your best bet, but if this is not practical in your home it’s time to buy some cord protectors. There are many variations of these practical little devices.
We found some simple ones from Bunnings for about $5. We suggest you take a look online for some super stylish ones if you want something that’s more in line with your house design. A quick search found some that automatically curl up, others that used magnets…you name it. If you were crafty you could even fashion something out of a piece of driftwood or upcycle something cool. You get the idea – keep curtain cords up and out of reach.
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Corner Guards are your best friend for the next few years.
We don’t want to have to sell or give away beloved furniture because the little people have arrived and taken over our lives. So we suggest softening all those hard, pointy edges around the home. Again, we found so many cool designs online. Even some soft, squishy, silicon ones that can be reused on all different furniture as the kids grow.
Our warning here would be – any glass table tops or mirrors with chips or cracks need to be repaired or replaced.
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Screens are bug catchers not safety nets.
With the Brisbane and Gold Coast weather being perfect for large open and airy living spaces, we so often rely on screens on our windows and glass doors to keep the unwanted guests out. Especially after all the rain we’ve experienced lately, these window coverings are lifesavers! Unfortunately, these ‘nets’ give us a false sense of security. Especially in older homes, these screens are barely holding on for dear life. One push from some adventurous little body and they are out.
Start by checking the security and durability of your screens. Replace any that are questionable and still don’t trust them for anything other than catching bugs. We recommend you still use extra safety features like window stoppers, sliding door locks and window locks. These clever little gadgets keep that breeze flowing freely but allow us to
control the level of that flow and size of space we create. And remember those little people can be crafty and bendy. Ensure there is no way they can fit through those gaps.
Our homes should always feel inviting and welcoming to our families. Considering these simple hints could prevent them from those unnecessary accidents and trips to emergency. With all of us spending a little more time indoors the last twelve months and as we approach the winter months, it’s worth taking the time to think about how we can be proactive in creating a safe space for all.
If you have any other hints for parents, share them in the comments or shoot us a message. We’d love to hear how you made your space kid friendly.
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