Parents Overlook Deadly Threat When Childproofing Their Homes

  • Sep 14, 2007

When it comes to baby safety, a new survey shows that new and expectant parents may underestimate the deadliest threat in their home. Only 11 percent of parents surveyed by Kelton Research believe that a home fire is more likely to occur than a baby falling or being poisoned. While falls occur more often, fires are more deadly.

Fires and burns are the leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths for children over age 1, and the second leading cause for infants, according to the Home Safety Council's State of Home Safety in America.

"New parents undoubtedly have safety on their minds," said Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "However, the misplaced concerns revealed in this survey show a greater need for educating them about the risk their baby could face regarding fire and burns. Because a fire can happen at any time, parents need to incorporate fire safety into their childproofing plans."

The Home Safety Council and Kidde commissioned this survey, which asked about preparations for a child. Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe their home is as safe as possible. Yet, while most parents had childproofed cabinets, put up safety gates and locked poisons away, fewer had installed extra smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Additionally, 78 percent of parents surveyed had never conducted a home fire drill.

The National Fire Protection Association reports a home fire occurs about every 80 seconds in America, and children under age five face nearly twice the risk of dying than adults. A working smoke alarm cuts your risk of dying in a fire almost in half.

"Families have on average three minutes from the time a smoke alarm sounds to escape a home fire," said Chris Rovenstine, vice president for Kidde Residential and Commercial. "That's why parents must take steps to help protect their family, including installing working smoke and CO alarms in sleeping areas, having fire extinguishers within reach and developing and practicing a fire escape plan."

As part of Baby Safety Month, Kidde and Babies "R" Us will hold complimentary "Safe Home, Safe Baby" clinics at Babies "R" Us on Saturday, September 15, 2007. The Home Safety Council will provide childproofing tips on the top home dangers for infants.

"New and expectant parents rely on us for the products and information they need to keep their babies safe and healthy, and we take that responsibility very seriously," said Janet Taake, senior vice president, general merchandise manager, Babies "R" Us. "When a baby comes home for the first time, parents need to make sure the rest of the home is as ready as the nursery. Partnering with Kidde and the Home Safety Council for our essential 'Safe Home, Safe Baby' clinics will provide our guests with the expert information they need to make their homes safe for the babies and children in their lives." For more information on this survey, childproofing tips and a safety clinic schedule, visit http://www.SafeHomeSafeBaby.com.

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