The Injury Prevention Program [TIPP] from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Sample Solution

    Home Safety Survey The following is a home safety survey that can be used to assess the home environment of a 6-month-old and a 5-year-old. The survey includes questions about the following:

• General safety hazards
• Fall hazards
• Burn hazards
• Choking hazards
• Electrical hazards
• Toxic hazards
• Water hazards

Full Answer Section

    General Safety Hazards

• Are there any loose rugs or carpets that could cause a tripping hazard?
• Are there any sharp objects that could be a choking hazard?
• Are there any electrical cords that are accessible to children?
• Are there any chemicals or cleaning products that are stored in areas that children can reach?

Fall Hazards

• Are there any stairs or steps that are not gated?
• Are there any windows or balconies that are not properly secured?
• Are there any toys or furniture that could be used to climb up to dangerous areas?

Burn Hazards

• Are there any hot appliances that are not turned off or unplugged when not in use?
• Are there any hot liquids that are not kept out of reach of children?
• Are there any candles or open flames that are not properly supervised?

Choking Hazards

• Are there any small objects that could be a choking hazard?
• Are there any toys or food that are not appropriate for children under the age of 3?
• Are there any balloons that are not properly inflated?

Electrical Hazards

• Are there any electrical outlets that are not covered?
• Are there any electrical cords that are frayed or exposed?
• Are there any electrical appliances that are not properly grounded?

Toxic Hazards

• Are there any chemicals or cleaning products that are stored in areas that children can reach?
• Are there any medications that are not properly stored?
• Are there any plants that are poisonous to children?

Water Hazards

• Are there any buckets or containers of water that are not properly secured?
• Is the bathtub or shower accessible to children without adult supervision?
• Is the pool or spa properly fenced in?

Plan of Education and Anticipatory Guidance Based on the results of the home safety survey, the following plan of education and anticipatory guidance can be developed for the family:

• General safety hazards: The family should be advised to secure all loose rugs and carpets, put away sharp objects, and store chemicals and cleaning products in areas that children cannot reach.
• Fall hazards: The family should be advised to install gates at the top and bottom of stairs, secure windows and balconies, and remove any toys or furniture that could be used to climb up to dangerous areas.
• Burn hazards: The family should be advised to turn off or unplug all hot appliances when not in use, keep hot liquids out of reach of children, and supervise candles and open flames.
• Choking hazards: The family should be advised to remove all small objects that could be a choking hazard, choose toys and food that are appropriate for children under the age of 3, and properly inflate balloons.
• Electrical hazards: The family should be advised to cover all electrical outlets, replace frayed or exposed electrical cords, and properly ground all electrical appliances.
• Toxic hazards: The family should be advised to store all chemicals and cleaning products in areas that children cannot reach, properly store medications, and remove any poisonous plants from the home.
• Water hazards: The family should be advised to secure all buckets and containers of water, keep the bathtub or shower inaccessible to children without adult supervision, and properly fence in the pool or spa.

Application to a Larger Population The information from the home safety survey can be applied to a larger population by developing educational materials and programs that target parents and caregivers. These materials and programs should emphasize the importance of creating a safe home environment for children, and they should provide specific tips on how to reduce the risk of accidents. The information from the home safety survey can also be used to develop public policy initiatives that promote home safety. For example, government agencies could develop regulations that require homes to be equipped with certain safety features, such as smoke detectors and childproof locks.