Tony's Blog

Child Safety Tips: Microwaves

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:55:35 -0500

Microwaves

Don't let children use the microwave until they are old enough to read and understand the cooking directions and time settings. If a child is too young to use the stove, the child is too young to use the microwave. Once children are old enough to operate the microwave, an adult must supervise them during its use. Reread the manual's instructions and safety |precautions with them. Teach them to always read and follow the directions printed on the box, especially regarding cooling, stirring, and venting food. Warn your children against using metal containers, foil, wire twists ties, or dishes with metal trim in the microwave. Popping corn in brown paper bags will result in a fire. Children should always use potholders to remove containers from the microwave. The microwave should never be turned on without something in it. Keep a glass of water in it just in case.

Microwave Food

Teach children that microwaves heat food from the inside out. Don't use the microwave to heat baby food or formula. A hot pocket in the food could burn your baby's mouth. Also, baby bottle liners can explode. Before cooking, poke holes in foods with tight skins, such as sausages, hot dogs, and tomatoes. Otherwise, trapped steam may cause them to explode.Escaping steam can burn your child. After removing food from the microwave, children should always open bags, pull back covers, and remove plastic wraps away from themselves and others. Trapped steam can also explode containers that haven't been vented.

Contact Your Local BrickKicker Operator for more information on Child Safety. 933-6553

Child Safety Tips: Small Appliances

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:54:45 -0500

Don't plug too many heat producing or motorized appliances into the same circuit. Avoid shocking your children, and yourself, by checking to see that you are using all three prongs on your plugs. If you have any appliances with frayed or worn cords, have them repaired or dispose of the appliance. Keep electrical cords from touching heat producing appliances, and keep them out from under rugs. Electrical cords should be out of reach of children who may accidentally electrocute or strangle themselves. Many children have been injured by pulling appliances down onto themselves. Use cord shorteners to take up slack. Move all of your small appliances away from the sink.Make a habit of unplugging all of your small appliances after each use.

Contact Your Local BrickKicker Operator for more information on Child Safety. 933-6553

Child Safety Tips: Stoves

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:53:28 -0500

Parents have often accidentally knocked scalding hot food or boiling water down onto their children. Children have also pulled pots of hot food down on themselves. While cooking, turn all pot handles away from the stove's edge. Check your pots and pans for loose handles. (Repair or throw away) For added protection, clip a stove guard to the front of your stove. Always keep your hot beverages out of your child's reach. Put it down whenever you pick up your child. If you have a gas stove, check the pilot lights regularly to make sure they are in good working order. Never use any kind of stove to heat your home.

To Prevent Serious Fires and Burns Caused by the Stove:

Move your children's cereals and snacks to the cabinet farthest from the stove.
Keep the fire extinguisher out of reach of small children, and teach the older children how to use it properly.
Remove any curtains or hanging towels that could touch the burners.
Never wear loose clothing while cooking.
Regularly scrape grease and food from the burners and the broiler.
Never use an aerosol can near the stove.
Although it seems obvious, people are still starting fires by leaving potholders, towels, |food packing, and recipes on the stove.
Many curious children accidentally turn on the stove after grabbing onto the stove's knobs. If possible, slide the knobs off your stove and keep them in a drawer until it is time to cook.

Contact Your Local BrickKicker Operator for more information on Child Safety. 933-6553

Child Safety Tips: Dishwasher

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:51:37 -0500

Never bathe your child in the sink while the dishwasher is running. Your baby can be severely burnt by hot waste water backing up the sink drain from the dishwasher. Never leave your knives or sharp utensils in the dishwasher or on the counter waiting for trouble. Immediately after each use, wash them by hand and store them pointed toward the back of a drawer with a safety latch.

Contact Your Local BrickKicker Operator for more information on Child Safety. 933-6553

Child Safety Tips: Refridgerator

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:50:09 -0500

If you have small children, don't tempt them with refrigerator magnets shaped like food. Remove all small magnets from your refrigerator and bulletin board. Warn your children against touching cold surfaces of the refrigerator with their tongue or wet hands. No experimenting needed here, they will get stuck.

Contact Your Local BrickKicker Operator for more information on Child Safety. 933-6553

Child Safety Tips: High Chairs

Tony Stiles (The BrickKicker Inspection Services) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:53:41 -0500

High Chairs

To keep your child from pushing themselves over, set the chair out of reach of walls, tables, and counters. Never leave your child unattended while they're in a highchair. Make sure the chair is very stable when it is set up. If it is the folding type, it must have a locking device. Never let your child stand up in a highchair or climb in unassisted. To avoid possible tipping, keep other children from hanging onto, or playing around the highchair. As the chair gets older, watch out for torn belts, loose screws, broken joints, sharp edges, and food caked in moving parts. Only use a highchair with a seat belt and crotch strap. A tray is not enough to keep a child in the highchair; Always use the restraints.

Hook-on Chairs

If you use a hook-on chair instead of a highchair, make sure your child's feet can't reach anything. Children have dislodged hook-on chairs by pushing off on table supports and benches. For added safety, use a hook-on chair with a clamp that locks to the table. As with highchairs, always use the restraints with a hook-on chair.