A Paramedic's Guide to Hidden Home Hazards

Examples: Unsecured furniture (dressers, bookshelves), top-heavy TVs, dangling window blind cords, appliance tip-overs.

Paramedic's Perspective: These are silent risks. A child's natural instinct to climb can turn a piece of furniture into a deadly hazard in seconds. We check every single piece of furniture and television for proper anchoring.

Examples: Unsecured toilets, accessible buckets, pet water bowls, bathtub access, water heater temperature set too high.

Paramedic's Perspective: A child can drown in as little as one inch of water. It happens incredibly fast. We also check hot water heaters, as scald burns are a common and devastating injury for children.

Examples: Uncovered outlets, overloaded power strips, frayed cords, unmaintained smoke/CO detectors, accessible lighters/matches.

Paramedic's Perspective: Beyond outlet covers, we look at the entire electrical system from a child's point of view. We also verify the placement and function of every smoke and carbon monoxide detector—they are your first line of defense.

Examples: Cleaning supplies under sinks, unsecured medications, laundry pods, certain houseplants, automotive fluids in garages.

Paramedic's Perspective: We know what kids are drawn to—brightly colored pods and bottles. We assess storage of all chemicals, not just the obvious ones, and check for potentially toxic houseplants that parents may not be aware of.

Examples: Small toy parts, button batteries, loose magnets, food cut to the wrong size/shape, plastic bags, crib bedding.

Paramedic's Perspective: We use the toilet paper roll rule as a guide, but our audit goes further. We look for less obvious risks like button batteries, which can cause severe internal burns, and discuss safe sleep environments to prevent suffocation.

Examples: Gaps in stair railings, unsafe deck balusters, unrestricted access to pools or exterior doors, windows that open too wide.

Paramedic's Perspective: A fall from height is a significant mechanism of injury. We measure every gap to ensure it's safe for the smallest child and assess all points of entry/exit to prevent wandering and falls.