In today’s metro wherein carmageddon is slowly becoming the norm, more families are opting to live in condominium buildings within the city. A condo unit’s primary advantage is that most of the developments are found near schools, malls, and offices. This cuts down the commute time and gives parents more time to spend with their families.
However, just like in any home or place, parents need to ensure their kids’ safety in their condo unit. This is more timely and imperative especially after what happened last Saturday, December 9. News agencies and even Facebook posts have reported that a 4-year old child fell to his death from a 39th-floor condominium unit in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. According to a report from PhilStar, the child crawled into a table and climbed the railing of the balcony.
This tragic incident brings to light the importance of safety precautions that parents should take if they live in condominium buildings. Here are a few safety reminders for parents who are living in a condo with their kids:
Secure your balcony.
The aforementioned news report highlighted this, if your condominium unit has a balcony, secure the space. Ensure that the doors going out to the balcony are always locked. Check the railing’s gaps – ideally, it should be less than four inches so that even the smallest child would not fit, and the railing or barrier should be more than a meter high. Keep furniture away from the railing so kids would not have anything to climb. If your balcony has limited space, then keep it furniture-free and instead just bring out chairs as needed.
Make your kitchen safe.
Most condo units utilize an “open layout,” so areas such as the kitchen are easily accessible for everyone including your kids. Ensure that knives and other kitchen implements are far from your kids’ reach. Install kid-proof locks and latches on your cabinets and shelves – especially ones that store harmful equipment or cleaning supplies such as bleach and sprays. Use stove guards to cover or lock your stove’s knobs, and make sure to keep pots and pans’ handles turned toward the back of the stove when cooking. You can also install corner guards for your kitchen table and counters.
Keep your bathroom safe.
The bathroom can be a bit dangerous for kids as they can drown in just an inch of water or slip and hit their head on the counter. You can place rubber mats in the shower and bathtub to minimize slippery floors. Install hooks for your hair dryer or flat iron so that these would not be left plugged and out on the counters. Since kids have sensitive skin, opt to for water heaters that have anti-scalding devices, or fit one on your showerhead to ensure that your kid does not get burned from a too-hot shower. Also, never leave your kids in the bathroom unattended.
Cover electrical outlets and secure all wires.
Kids, especially toddlers, are curious about everything and they touch whatever might get their fancy – including electrical outlets. Ensure that all low-lying outlets are securely fastened to your walls, and use outlet protectors or safety caps to protect them from kids’ prying fingers. Use wire binders or fasteners to keep electrical wires tidy and out of your children’s reach. Aside from electrical wires, ensure that other wires or cords such as those in window blinds are out of your kids’ reach, as these can pose a strangulation risk.