From the minute they are born it seems, kids are out to try their luck with various dangerous things. For whatever reason, they seem compelled to jump off high places, or go rummaging through whatever cupboard they can get into.
One of the most dangerous appliances in a household, as far as small children go, is the fireplace. It is rife with dangers for the unaware, with varying degrees of severity. So it is one of only a handful of areas that needs to be carefully altered to ensure the safety of any young children who may come within reach of it.
So, what are the best solutions to this problem? Well here are a few tips you can use to make sure your children, your nieces and nephews, or your grandchildren are kept safe.
Safety Gate
The first and most obvious step is to install a fire gate. You likely remember these from your youth - they are metal grates that engulf the fireplace, making sure that no grasping hands can get anywhere near the hot surface of the fire. They have moved on from the practical yet garish gates of your childhood though, so you may even be able to find one that isn’t an eyesore.
Safety Screen
To supplement the safety gate, you should consider installing a safety screen. Similar in purpose to the safety gate, the safety screen is a clear piece of material that is curved around the outside of the fireplace. It is usually attached at either side of the fire ,and can be removed after the kids have left. If a more permanent solution is required, consider buying a fireplace that has been fitted with a clear frontage already. They won’t be cold to the touch, but they are build to be considerably cooler on the surface than their more traditional counterparts.
Hearth Cushions
If you have an extended hearth around your fireplace, you’ll need to take precautions with it too. Thankfully, the solution is less drastic - a few soft mats can be placed on top of it to prevent any kid falling onto the hard tiled floor. If you have a raised hearth, there are specialised cushions you can buy that will cover the raised edges.
Stove Key
Recent trends in fireplace tastes have seen stoves come back into fashion. Wood burning stoves already come with a few precautions you need to be aware of, but they present a unique problem for those with small children, as they have to be opened to put more fuel in. Obviously, it would be mortifying if a kid managed to open the stove while it was burning the wood, so prevent that from happening by taking the key and storing it somewhere secure. Similarly, don’t leave the loose logs lying around either, as these are also potential hazards.
Fire Extinguisher / First Aid Kit
Even the most safety conscious plan can fall apart sometimes, however, so our final tip will cover any unfortunate slip ups. As a general rule, you should have a fire extinguisher near the fireplace just in case (make sure it it the correct fire extinguisher for the job too). And to complement it, keep a first aid kit with provisions to treat burns near by too. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use them, but if you do, you’ll be very happy that you took precautions.
