Children's safety at home
Adults and children spend 80-90% of their time inside. What are the dangers of indoor environments for children, and how we can avoided them?
What dangers do children face indoors?
There are at least three groups of dangers associated with children being in a room:
- The obvious one is about the horrific cases of children falling out of windows.
- The problem of "unhealthy premises" is less visible. This is about inadequate ventilation. But it is shortening the lives of many more children.
- Finally, risk of burns, injuries in a room, etc.
How to protect children from falling out of windows?
The easiest way to prevent children from falling out is to make it impossible to open a window or door:
- ● We need the regular handle replaced to handle with a key. It takes 5 minutes per window, and a specialist is not needed for it. And ensure that the window is locked constantly. It is not always easy.
- ● We need to install the locking device. It will take 20-30 minutes. It is more convenient for a specialist to do this, but it isn’t necessary. It allows for ventilation and does not require constant opening and closing of the lock. It is easier to monitor the safety condition.
If the flat is without a ventilation system, we should ventilate the rooms regularly. We must open windows when children are in another room.
What can do to prevent children from falling out through mosquito nets?
Mosquito nets seem to be a reliable support for children and pets. But nets can easily fall out under the slightest strain. Yet, the open window causes the danger. Therefore, it is necessary to make the window safe, to limit the possibility of opening it.
Should window glass be safe?
Injury from large pieces of glass is another danger to children and adults. According to Ukrainian standards, all double-glazed windows placed up to 1.1 metres above the floor must be safe. However, children often climb on window sills or tables near the window and knock on the glass with their toys.
Tempered energy-efficient glass has become more widely available. Some companies offer all their products with at least one tempered glass.
OKNA.ua recommends using tempered glass or triplex (like car windscreens) for floor-to-ceiling glazing.
What does the term "Healthy House" mean, and how it relates to children's safety?
The concept of a Healthy House had introduced lately. According to the Marjolaine Meynier-Millefert, Vice President Global Stakeholder Communications & Sustainability research, every third child lives in unhealthy conditions in the European Union. In Ukraine, the situation is worse. We are talking about fungus on the wall, suboptimal humidity, excessive levels of CO2, dust, and other gases and particles in the air. The same study shows a direct link between indoor air quality and life expectancy for adults and children.
Energy-efficient windows and regular ventilation help to solve many problems. Efficient windows with installation under DSTU retain heat during ventilation. It normalises air quality, a prerequisite for a healthy home and a long life.
