List 5 potential safety hazards below. Describe each hazard in detail.
1. Stagnant water and small amounts of liquid
It is important to drain water from sinks and bath tubs in order to prevent children from drowning when unattended. Children can drown in as little as 2 inches deep of any liquid so it is important to keep sinks, pails and buckets free from any liquids. The toilet bowls also pose as potential hazards so the lids should always be put down because children may drown in the toilet.
2. Suspended hangings or strings
Children tend to experiment with anything, mistaking it for a toy. Any hanging things in the house pose as potential hazards in the house. These include curtain drawstrings, drapery, cords, loose electrical cables and wires. Children may innocently entangle them around their necks, but they are very hazardous since they could choke them. Such items should be tucked away from children’s reach.
3. Magnets and metallic objects
Rare-earth magnets have become popular in homes for various purposes, but children easily mistake them for toys. These magnets are powerful and small; therefore, children can easily swallow them. If a child accidentally swallows a metal object together with a magnet, the two attract in the child’s body and can be trapped in the intestinal wall. In turn, this could injure the intestines causing perforations, blockage or even death. Therefore, such objects should be kept away from children’s reach.
4. Tip-overs
Anybody, including children, could trip over any obstacle on their way and sustain injuries. Unstable objects placed on top of furniture such as TV stands, shelves, desks, chests and chairs may fall on the head and cause trauma and other injuries. In order to prevent such injuries, furniture should be firmly anchored to the ground or fastened on the wall. Anti-tip brackets could be used to fasten objects to the wall.
5. Slippery floors
Wet floors pose as a hazard to anybody since one can slip and fall, sustaining serious injuries. One can slip on the wet floor and break limbs or even sustain a head trauma. Floors should be properly dried after cleaning in order to prevent one from slipping.
