Blog

by Noreen Beatley

Summer is a time for fun, freedom, and family—but it also brings a higher risk of injuries for children, especially when they spend more time at home. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), unintentional injuries in the home are a leading cause of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for children. Fortunately, many of these injuries are preventable with a few proactive steps.

Here’s how you can make your home safer for kids this summer and beyond:

Prevent Falls with Simple Home Fixes

Falls are the most common cause of injury for children at home. To reduce the risk:

• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Use window guards or stops to prevent falls from windows.
• Keep floors clear of toys, cords, and clutter.
• Ensure stair railings—both indoors and out—are secure.
• Make sure playground equipment is set up on soft surfaces.
• Ensure there is a buffer area around playground equipment to make sure kids that fall don’t hit another piece of equipment.

Tip: Most falls among young children happen from furniture, stairs, and playground equipment. Supervise toddlers closely and avoid placing furniture near windows.

Drowning Can Happen in Inches of Water

Whether it’s a pool, bathtub, or even a bucket, water safety is critical.

• Never leave children unattended near water.
• Install four-sided fencing around pools with self-latching gates.
• Empty kiddie pools and buckets immediately after use.

Tip: Enroll children in swim lessons and learn CPR—it could save a life.

Be Mindful of the Heat

Extreme temperatures can be dangerous, especially for young children.

• Ensure your home has working air conditioning or fans during heat waves.
• Keep children well hydrated and dressed appropriately for the weather.
• Avoid outdoor play during peak heat hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).

Fire and Burn Safety Starts with Prevention

Fires and burns can happen in seconds. Hot grills and summer fireworks, while beautiful and exciting, can cause serious burns. Here are some ways to protect your children from burns:

• Watch fireworks from a distance (at least 500 feet away from the launch area).
• Don’t let children play with or light fireworks, including sparklers, and always supervise them closely.
• Use glow sticks as an alternative to sparklers, especially for young children.
• Keep kids away from hot grills.
• Install smoke alarms on every level and in every bedroom.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Set water heater temperatures to 120° F or lower to prevent scalds.
• Supervise children in the kitchen and keep hot items out of reach.

Tip: Practice a fire escape plan so your children know what to do in an emergency.

Keep Poisons Out of Reach

Children are naturally curious, which makes them vulnerable to accidental poisonings.

• Store medications, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics in locked cabinets.
• Never transfer chemicals into food or drink containers.
• Use child-resistant packaging and label all products clearly.

Tip: Keep the Poison Control Center number handy: 1-800-222-1222.

Secure Furniture and TVs

Heavy furniture and TVs can tip over and seriously injure children.

• Anchor bookshelves, dressers, and TVs to the wall.
• Avoid placing tempting items (like toys or remotes) on top of furniture.

Tip: Use anti-tip brackets and straps, which are inexpensive and easy to install.

Firearm Safety Is Essential

If you have firearms in the home:

• Store them unloaded and locked away.
• Keep ammunition in a separate, locked location.
• Talk to children about gun safety and what to do if they find a firearm.

Tip: Consider removing firearms from homes with young children altogether.

Local Assistance

Many local organizations offer free or low-cost safety equipment, home assessments, and educational resources. Reach out to your local health department, fire department, or housing department to learn more.

Creating a safe home doesn’t require a complete renovation—just thoughtful, consistent steps. Making small changes today can help ensure your children enjoy a safe, injury-free summer and beyond.

Additional Resources

Here are some resources to help create a safer home environment for children.

Home Safety

Safe Kids Worldwide: Offers safety tips, checklists, and educational materials.

National Safety Council: provides injury data and prevention strategies.

Healthy Children (American Academy of Pediatrics): offers a range of articles and tips for keeping kids safe.

Child Injury Prevention

CDC’s Injury Center: research and tools for preventing injuries.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital – Home Safety Center: Videos and guides for installing safety devices.

Fire and Burn Safety

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Fire safety tips, smoke alarm guides, and community programs.

Poison Control

Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222.

Poison.org: Real-time help and prevention tips.

Drowning Prevention

Stop Drowning Now: Public education and awareness campaign.

Children’s Safety Network: Statistics and guidelines on water safety.

 

Noreen Beatley, MPa, Vice President of Healthy Housing Solutions, has worked with the organization since 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of affordable housing and healthy communities, green building, energy efficiency, and sustainable community development policies and programs. Ms. Beatley has authored and contributed to numerous reports on energy efficiency and green building, smart growth and affordable housing, and the integration of health and housing. Across her career, she also served as a consultant for a variety of national energy efficiency implementers, and housing and community development nonprofits, and as the director of state and local policy for Enterprise Community Partners. Ms. Beatley holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in urban development and public policy from the University of Rhode Island.