Health Tip: Safety Steps if Your Child is Home Alone
(HealthDay News) -- If your child is going to be home alone, it's a good idea to have the child check in periodically, says the American Red Cross.
For older children, ground rules about having friends over and cooking should also be established.
The Red Cross mentions other steps parents should take:
- Post an emergency phone list where a child can see it.
- Practice emergency plans with your child.
- Remove or safely store dangerous items, such as guns and power tools.
- Make sure medicine is out of a child's reach.
- Make sure your home has working smoke alarms.
- Install safety covers on unused electrical outlets.
If your child is not responsible enough to stay home alone, the Red Cross reminds parents that there may be other options, including child care programs at schools and youth clubs.
The news stories provided in Health News and our Health-E News Newsletter are a service of the nationally syndicated HealthDay® news and information company. Stories refer to national trends and breaking health news, and are not necessarily indicative of or always supported by our facility and providers. This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.