Dining / Living Room Safety

The dining/living room needs to be maintained as a safe environment while you have children in the house. Some key ideas to consider and safety products relevant to this area are listed below:

• Cover all electrical outlets with keyed outlet plugs, power point safety cover or the safety power board safety cover.
• Encase all extension cords with a cord clamp.
• Screen heating devices with a heat-resistant gate enclosing an area of up to 4.8 metres. 
• Secure television sets to prevent them toppling over.
• Secure top heavy furniture/book shelves to the wall with tip resistant brackets to prevent it tipping over. 
• VCR units can be locked with the VCR lock.
• DVD/CD units can be locked with the DVD shield.
• Prevent access to glass display cabinets with a glass cabinet lock. 
• Install a Safety Gate at the top AND bottom of any staircase. 
• Secure all cupboards/hutches with locks/latches. 
• Ensure any clear glass doors are decorated with colourful stickers or window clings to prevent children from running through the closed door. 
• Fit window latches and fly screens on the windows so they cannot be fully opened. 
• Pad sharp corners and edges of furniture with corner cushions. 
• Check all freestanding furniture for stability and either secure it with the use of tip-resistant safety brackets, remove the furniture or replace it altogether. 
• Prevent fingers being jammed in doors by using a foam doorstopper or an under door gripper.
• Prevent children from gaining access to adjoining rooms such as the laundry, garages or office using doorknob covers.
• Check that low level doors and windows are made from safety glass or contact a glazier for further inspection. 
• Install smoke detectors throughout your home. Tip: change batteries once a year on an easily remembered date such as your or your child's birthday, or the beginning or end of daylight saving.
• Tie all blind/curtain cords up with a cord tidy or blind cord winders.
   

Source: Modified from The Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia - Kidsafe and The Mother and Baby "Safety Guide".