Preventing home injuries related to dangerous products during the Covid-19 Lockdown

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just released  recommendations on how families can make sure nobody gets injured by dangerous products or other hazards while staying at home during the Coronavirus crisis. The agency highlights specific hazards related to children, seniors and the whole family globally.

As families are staying home, several fires erupted in New York City over the last few days. On Saturday, 6 people and a firefighter were injured in a basement fire in Brooklyn including one critically injured and another one in serious condition. This morning two people were critically injured and several others became homeless after a fire ravaged an apartment in the Bronx.

The CPSC is urging families to check their smoke alarm and their carbon monoxide alarm and make sure they are working. While cooking it is important to stay in the kitchen as well.

Medicine and cleaning products should be kept away from children as well as magnets. If a child swallows small magnets by mistake they can stick together internally and lead to serious injury.

Families with young children should make sure that babies are safely sleeping on their back in a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets current safety standards. Incline sleepers must be avoided as these products are dangerous and have been linked to several children deaths. Big size furniture should be secured to prevent falls and corded window coverings should be secured or replaced with cordless blinds. Kids should never be left alone near any water area such as pools to bathtubs and even water buckets to prevent drowning. More info can be found here.

Older kids using a hover board should use adequate protection to avoid fall injuries and only charge their hover board during the day and within view.  Many defective hover boards have been recalled after they caught fire while charging. The CPSC website lists all the recalls.

For seniors, falls are the number one cause of injuries. Keeping stairs well lighted and floors slip resistant and free of obstacles is key. Bathrooms and toilets should also be equipped adequately.