Share your top safety tips for your family – carbon monoxide alarms and £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Whether you’re preparing for a new arrival or you’re just trying to keep up with your family’s needs, it may seem as though you’re constantly making lists of the things you’ll need to buy to keep your family safe – from the latest car or booster seats to bath thermometers or drawer locks. Co-Be Alarmed! would like to hear about the top safety tips you have for your home and family - whether they’re things you’ve bought or things that you do.

Here’s what they have to say: “Research from the national CO-Be Alarmed! campaign showed that while UK parents spend an average of £222 on safety features for their kids, a third of mums and dads do not have a carbon monoxide alarm in their home. Those with children under twelve months were found to be the least likely to have one.

Carbon monoxide is also known as ‘the silent killer’ because you can’t see, taste or smell it, which is why the only way to protect yourself and your family is to buy a CO alarm. Make sure you add one to your list: it’s one less thing to worry about and it could save your family’s life.”

So, share your top safety tips for your home and family to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice.

Additionally, if you also add your details here, you’ll be entered into a prize draw for one of 100 carbon monoxide alarms from Co-Be Alarmed!

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Put safety caps on electrical sockets. Lock dangerous chemicals away. Never leave cooking food or uncovered heat sources where a child could reach them. But above all teach, teach, teach, and lead by example. Kids need to be shown how to navigate the world safely.

Be aware of your surroundings, don't place yourself or your family in situations that you don't want to be in and explain why to your children, without being too dramatic.

my tip is 'think outside the box' look around your room and look where little fingers may probe, what may be put in your little ones mouth, and look at the height of corners, then use corner protectors, socket covers and keep small things out of reach, I have taken a first aid course hosted by my playgroup on paediatric first aid which was the best hour I have spend in a long time, giving me the knowledge if I came across an accident, I would love to promote this further.

Cupboard locks and stair gates, anything dangerous locked away out of reach. Running an eye over a room from a childs point of view and just being aware of any potential dangers!

Keep all household cleaning products in a place put of the reach, keep all medicines locked away, teach about 999 emergency services as ear;y as possible. hoover smoke and carbon monoxide detectors weekly and check weekly, if type with replaceable batteries change at least twice a year, doing them when the clocks go back and forward is a handy reminder. keep all cords from blind or curtains tied up or cut so that they can't end up around little necks. keep washing machine and tumble dryers unplugged and closed when not in use. keep all matches and cigarette lighters in a secure place.

Always use a child proof fire guard.

tell them who you consider are safe adults in the Neighbourhood then can go to for help

Make sure your home is kitted out with a carbon monoxide detector, smoke detectors, one on each floor & fire extinguishers. If you have an elderly or disabled relative ask the fire brigade to come round & assess their home as they'll fit them for free

We have locks on our cupboards too stop our youngest from being able to reach cleaning products.Our older children know how to dial 999 in case of emergency.We have smoke and carbon monoxide alarm for added security.Stairgates and plug socket covers.They all have been taught not too talk to strangers or go with anyone other than mum or dad.Cctv to watch over our home.Also we have taught them about fire safety,how to escape if a fire was too break out.

teach them from very young was is dangerous and what they must never touch or do, and lead by example.

Always have a smoke alarm and check it's working regularly, something so simple can save lives! Turning the oven off at the wall whenever it wasn't in use was a must for us with inquisitive children, also safety catches on cupboards especially cupboards with bleach etc in.

Keep all your straighteners and curling irons stored away high after each use, it only takes a second for a young one to lift them and get burned

With any child don't assume their capabilities to climb or access things or areas that you don't want them to as inevitably they will succeed. Safety first, second and third is a good rule.

As soon as my DC started to climb up stairs I taught them to climb down safely as well. My ex-PIL thought it would be safer to put up stair gates and ban the DC from stairs until they could walk but I persisted and they've never had an accident on the stairs.

I think teaching children the dangers and how to do things safely is the best way.

Use a playpen or similar so you can briefly pop out of the room.

Always be alert and think about what dangers are around especially when in an unfamiliar environment.

I count four on here recommending plug socket 'protectors' . if you are in the UK these are dangerous! They override the inbuilt protection, provide an excellent tool for children to electrocute themselves and can damage sockets causing a fire.

Throw them away. No human child can get its fingers to the live bits of a UK socket, they have shutters. Search fatally flawed .

This would be a useful campaign for mumsnet.

OH my goodness where to start! I think the biggest most important is check batteries in alarms - I set an alarm reminder on my phone to do this at the end of each month. I also found that as a foster carer I was able to register with the fire brigade and they came out and did a safety check on my home, installed extra alarms and they keep a database too to remind us of time to do an upgrade and check. I am not sure if this service is available to all but really is worth ringing them and checking it out.

Soft closing hinges on cupboard doors

Get smoke alarms and don't forget to test them regularly!
Also have an escape plan in case if fire and ensure that the kids know how to make an emergency call

I find the best way to keep children safe in their home is to teach them about the dangers, nothing more valuable than knowledge.

get down to a small childs level and crawl around the house to get a better view of possible dangers for them

We haven't used any safety devices or thingsomething, my toddler knows not to go upstairs or touch things that she shouldn't. Breakable things are put out of reach but I think we rely on safety things, like cupboard clips, a bit too much. Children should be taught the rights and wrongs and respect the rules. My toddler never goes in the cleaning cupboard, but I would never leave her in the kitchen alone (who would?!)

I agree with the carbon monoxide alarm. I've become super vigilant about this

Make sure the Co2 alarm is in a high position like a on door frame and test regularly.