[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/keeping-kids-safe-covid-19\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/keeping-kids-safe-covid-19\/","headline":"Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic","name":"Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic","description":"The global COVID-19 pandemic is causing changes to everyday life in the United States. Preventing the spread of the coronavirus is a top priority. Many schools are now closed and have moved to online learning classes, and more parents are working from home. Many people also are practicing social distancing. Those measures mean both children […]","datePublished":"2020-04-06","dateModified":"2022-04-25","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","name":"Pediatrics","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/pediatrics","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/pediatrics\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-157328409.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-157328409.jpg","height":323,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/keeping-kids-safe-covid-19\/","about":["COVID-19","Family Health","Living and Wellness","Safety"],"wordCount":1301,"keywords":["COVID-19"],"articleBody":"The global COVID-19 pandemic is causing changes to everyday life in the United States. Preventing the spread of the coronavirus is a top priority. Many schools are now closed and have moved to online learning classes, and more parents are working from home. Many people also are practicing social distancing.Those measures mean both children and adults are spending more time at home than usual. And while preventing COVID-19 from spreading is crucial, so is keeping children safe within their own home.\u201cYou have kids who are going to probably start getting into things they shouldn\u2019t be getting into because they have already played with all their toys and watched all the movies,\u201d says Christine Vitale, RN, MSN, injury prevention manager at UPMC Children\u2019s Hospital of Pittsburgh. \u201cThey\u2019re going to start investigating around the house. Their curiosity just kind of takes over.\u201dParents, guardians, babysitters, or other caregivers should make sure they\u2019re watching children closely \u2013 especially children 5 years old or younger. Vitale says most injuries to children under the age of 5 happen in the home. If parents can\u2019t provide constant supervision because they\u2019re also working, Vitale says they need to consider other resources. Those include asking someone else to watch children while they are working or using play yards for young children.\u201cAdults have to keep in mind that the best way to prevent an injury in a child is supervision,\u201d Vitale says.Here are some common home safety hazards and what adults can do to keep children safe from them.How to Protect Children From Household PoisonsMany items around the house can be poisonous or harmful \u2013 cleaning supplies, medicine, laundry detergents, toiletries, alcohol, and more. Due to COVID-19, there is a major focus on household cleaners. Cleaning and sanitizing your home can help you prevent COVID-19, but cleaning products can be poisonous. Some of them might have bright colors or smell like orange or lemon, which can cause small children to confuse them with drinks.\u201cAdults are trying to keep on top of keeping everything disinfected and may not be thinking as much about where they\u2019re storing things,\u201d Vitale says. \u201cThose things may be left out on the counter or not put up high enough to keep kids from getting them.\u201dMedication is another worry because kids can search through purses or bags or find medication bottles on lower shelves. To see if you might need to make changes in your own home, Vitale recommends adults get down to children\u2019s level. \u201cGet on your knees, or crawl around, to see what they\u2019re seeing,\u201d she says. \u201cThings can look different from a kid\u2019s level.\u201dOther things you can do to keep common cleaners and medicines from becoming dangerous include: Don\u2019t leave them out: As soon as you\u2019re done using a cleaning product or medicine, put it away.Put them up high: Place hazardous materials on a high shelf so small children can\u2019t reach them. If you keep medication in a purse or bag, hang the bag on a hook to keep it out of reach.Keep them out of sight: Put these products in a cabinet or closet where children can\u2019t access them.Lock them away: If you do put medications in a closet, use a lock to keep children from getting to them. Keep items in original packaging: Don\u2019t transfer cleaning products to another container. Make sure you keep them in their original packaging to avoid confusion.Know the right numbers: Vitale recommends storing the number for Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) in your phone and posting it somewhere in the house. That way, in case of emergency, the number will be accessible.Talk to your caregivers: If a babysitter, family member, or someone else is watching the children, talk to them beforehand about possible poisons. Ask them to make sure they keep those items up high or locked away.For more information, visit the Pittsburgh Poison Center online.How to Protect Your Kids Against Choking HazardsWith children of all ages at home because of COVID-19, the mixing of ages at home can become a potential problem, Vitale says.\u201cIf older siblings are playing with toys or projects that have small parts and their younger siblings are around, a lot of things become choking hazards,\u201d Vitale says. \u201cSo, parents need to watch out for small objects.\u201dVitale says items that can fit inside a toilet paper roll could be considered a choking hazard.Another concern is button batteries \u2013 small, coin-shaped batteries found in watches, toys, remote controls, and more. Not only are button batteries a choking hazard, they also can cause burns if swallowed.To prevent choking:Make sure toys are age-appropriate: Toys\u2019 packages say what ages can play with them and if they have small parts that could be choking hazards.Talk to older children: If you have older and younger children playing in the same area, talk to the older kids to make sure the younger ones don\u2019t play with any toys that could be harmful. Keep harmful items out of reach: If a battery-operated item has a back that doesn\u2019t screw on, it can pose a danger. Put those items in places where young children can\u2019t get to them.Dispose of old batteries: When batteries need changed, dispose of the old ones immediately so that young children can\u2019t get to them.More Home Hazards to MonitorWhile choking and household poisons are major concerns for younger children, other safety hazards should be kept in mind.Fire safety: Children under 5 are twice as likely as people of other ages to die in a house fire, according to the American Red Cross. To keep kids safe:Keep items like lighters and matches out of children\u2019s reachUse flameless candlesInstall smoke detectors on every level of your house, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areasCheck your smoke detectors monthlyTeach children and adults at least two ways to escape if the house is on firePractice fire escape plans at least twice a yearTeach kids to \u201cstop, drop, and roll\u201d if their clothes catch fire Gun safety: If you have a gun in your home, securing it from children and teenagers can prevent death by accidental shooting or suicide:Keep guns unloaded when in the houseLock guns awayLock ammunition away in a different locationMake sure kids don\u2019t know where the keys to gun or ammunition cabinets are locatedIf your child is visiting a friend, ask the friend\u2019s parents if they own a gun and make sure it\u2019s locked awayHeavy furniture: Heavy or tall items can potentially tip over onto children who climb onto them or pull on them, causing serious injury or death. This includes appliances, furniture, or televisions that aren\u2019t mounted to the wall. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 27,000 injuries and more than 500 deaths result each year from tip-overs. Children 14 and under account for 46 percent of injuries and 83 percent of deaths. To prevent a tip-over:Anchor heavy or tall objects to the wall Don\u2019t put anything heavy up highDon\u2019t put toys, videos, books, and other items up high: Children might be tempted to climb onto a tall object if they see an item that they want but can\u2019t reach, Vitale says.Monitor children as much as possibleFor more information on how you can keep children safe at home during COVID-19 and all times, visit chp.edu\/besafe.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 6, 2020, and was last reviewed on April 25, 2022.SourcesFire Safety for Kids. American Red Cross. Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities Associated with Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances: 2019 Report. Consumer Product Safety Commission. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/keeping-kids-safe-covid-19\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]