Creating a safe home for children

Safe house is a model to help prevent accidents and injuries to children. This model has brought about many practical effects, overcoming the carelessness of adults, preventing unfortunate accidents from happening right in the house where children live.

Safety in every detail

There are things that seem harmless in the house but become a threat to children and in fact, there have been many accidents and injuries to children right in the house where they live. According to researchers, children often suffer accidents and injuries in their own homes, because the house contains many dangerous factors. In fact, the application of safe houses to help protect children is still not closely concerned by families and investors in construction projects.

Organizing playgrounds and practicing skills is one of the methods to help children prevent accidents and injuries.

After being mobilized by the local authorities, Ms. Nguyen Thi Gam (Di An City) participated in the "Safe House" model to prevent accidents and injuries for children. Ms. Gam said that she is retired and takes care of her two children while they go to work. The day before, local officials came to promote participation in the "Safe House" model, so she has more knowledge about child care and protection. "To ensure the safety of the children, the family arranges electrical wires and electrical outlets high up out of reach, and the path down to the house has a fence so that the children cannot climb over. Every day, I wash the children's toys under the tap and dry them. As for items such as knives, scissors, sharp objects, hot water bottles, bowls, plates, etc., I arrange them in places out of sight or put them high up so that the children cannot reach them."

Also with the meaning of changing behavior to protect children, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lang in Phu Giao district, said: “My house is on a big road so we have to fence it carefully. Children are very active, just a little carelessness can cause an accident. We adults have to be careful in everything to create a safe living environment for children.”

The “Safe Home” criteria are applied to homes where children regularly live and work (single-family homes, apartment buildings, homes of child support facilities, homes of social protection centers that care for children). “Safe Home” is the basis for State agencies, organizations, and individuals to guide and mobilize the community to build safe homes and identify qualified homes to ensure a safe environment for children.

Ensure safety criteria

A “safe home” needs to ensure the following criteria: Safety around the house, rooms in the house, safety of electricity, stairs, railings, household appliances and some other regulations. In the criteria of a “safe home”, there are criteria to ensure safety for children under 6 years old, which are very necessary for parents.

To ensure safety, the house must have sturdy doors, gates, and fences with heights suitable for children's ages. The path leading to the house and the yard around the house must be suitable and non-slip. The high floor must have steps for children to go up and down, and around ponds, water tanks, lime pits, and drainage pipes in the residential area there must be sturdy fences to ensure children's safety. Water wells, water tanks, or other water containers must have safe lids, the house must be cleared, and pets must be locked up and kept. Dangerous items and items containing toxic substances must be kept in safe storage.

Windows of rooms in the house must have bars, sturdy vertical bars, ensuring the distance so that children cannot crawl through. Windows and doors must have hooks close to the wall, when children run and jump, they will not collide or get stuck. The door must have a door stopper to avoid getting their hands caught when opening and closing the door. For high-rise buildings or places with high traffic density, tempered glass or double-layered glass must be used, without gaps, so that children cannot reach their hands through. The bathroom floor must use anti-slip, anti-slip tiles, and no water stagnation. The bathroom area, especially the bathroom designed with a bathtub and the toilet area must always be securely closed after use. The kitchen area must be separate, with a door and a lock so that children under 6 years old do not come into contact with the stove or gas tank.

Household items should be neatly arranged, thermoses should have containers or straps, lamps, matches and lighters should be kept in safe places, out of reach of children under 6 years old. Hanging cabinets for dishes and utensils should be sturdy. Medicines should be kept in medicine cabinets. Knives, scissors and sharp objects should be kept out of reach of children. In addition, there are regulations not to let children play with small toys and small objects that are easy to swallow. If the family has a disabled child, it is necessary to design internal roads and toilets that are suitable to ensure safety.

Electrical wires must be hidden in the wall or have a sturdy cover. Control switches, fuses, and sockets must be installed out of reach of children under 6 years old and must have protective boxes or nets, or have safety covers. Families must use lamps with insulating outer shells in rooms, do not place electrical outlets in bathrooms; if there are any, they must be placed in a safe location, out of reach of children under 6 years old. For open staircase designs, the clearance between the steps must ensure safety for children to not crawl through, and the steps must have anti-slip edges.

HOANG LINH - VAN QUYEN

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