Hidden Dangers In The Home
Among hidden
hazards in your home, there are two especially harmful to children;
flammable liquids, like gasoline and paint thinner. The other is
ordinary household tap water, that's too hot for a child's skin.
Protecting your loved ones from flammable liquids and extremely hot
water should come down to common sense. But with so many accidents,
injuries and deaths every year, it's easy to see that common sense is
sometimes overlooked.
It is not hard to figure our why. As parents, we become preoccupied or
distracted in going about our daily lives and that's where the problems
lie. All it takes is a split second, to change the course of your life.
GASOLINE IS A MOTOR FUEL
That is the only thing gasoline is for: to
power a motor. It's not a solvent, not a cleaning fluid, and should
NEVER be used that way. NEVER! Gasoline is a highly flammable liquid.
Dangerous flammable vapors are released in your home or garage every
time there is a spill, or when the container of gasoline or other
flammable liquid is not properly sealed.
The silent, invisible vapors can travel, and if these vapors reach a
source of ignition, like a faulty electrical outlet, the spark from a
running motor, or the pilot light of a home appliance, they can
ignite...and blow you clean out of the house. Gasoline should always be
tightly sealed in an approved container, kept out of the house and the
reach of children. Seal both the spout on the container and the vent.
Keep gasoline away from ignition sources, in a detached garage or shed,
keep it tightly sealed and away from children. Because what you can't
see can kill you!!
MORE THAN 4,000 CHILDREN ARE SCALDED BY TAP
WATER EVERY YEAR!!
Scald burns are most common among young children. And yet, these
accidents are so easy to prevent if you'll just follow these simple
steps:
1. Before putting your child in the bath tub, test the water by moving
your hand around in the water to make sure it's not too hot.
2. Never leave your child alone, not even for a second. If you need to
answer the phone or doorbell, take your child with you.
Remember, tap water scald burns can be as serious as burns from hot
liquid spills from a stove top. And tap water burns usually cover a
larger area of the body.
IT ONLY TAKES A
SECOND TO TURN A HAPPY BATH TIME INTO A LIFETIME OF PAIN!
Make sure your water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees. Use a
cooking thermometer to check the water temperature in your bathtub. If
its hotter than 120 degrees, turn down your water heater, or call a
plumbing contractor to turn it down. If you live in an apartment
building, have the building superintendent check it for you.
Water doesn't have to be at the boiling point to harm a child. Infants
are plump and cuddly, and their tender skin is a lot thinner than a
grown-up's, and can be scalded more quickly.
So - protect your loved ones. Use common sense when dealing with
flammable liquids and scalding hot water.
Be Safe - Not Sorry
