Things you must have in your house

Accidents are unpredictable and we should always be prepared for them. Maureen Ndoge, a Pharmaceutical Technologist at Pharmat Chemist in Westlands, Nairobi, gives some tips on this crucial subject.

Drugs

Have you ever wished, in the odd hours of the night faced with a sickly child, that you had some pain or fever reliever at home? There are ailments that one can treat e.g. minor headaches, stomach-aches, fever etc. using the home safety products. These drugs should always be stored and locked up in a medicine cabinet away from the children.

Here are some tips on what to put in your medicine cabinet:

• Pain relievers. For easy consumption, children under the age of six should be given liquid drugs.

• Antiseptics: When they get cuts or are injured on playgrounds, antiseptics should be applied on the bruised areas to kill bacteria and germs.

• Thermometer: This is used to take the kid’s temperature when a fever is suspected.

Antiseptics and disinfectants

Accidents do happen For example, your kid may accidentally cut his or her finger, bump a toe on a stone, or get bruised while playing. You should be having the materials for nursing the wound, clean the wound using an antiseptic and dress it UP.

Insecticides

These are the chemicals used to kill Insects. Depending on the weather, certain animals and insects tend to appear and some tend to disappear. For example, when it is hot, ants may appear, as may frogs during the rainy season, Most insects are harmful and other may cause disease. For example, mosquito bites lead to Malaria that can cause death; safari ants can attack and kill and bees have poisonous stings. It is important to know the use and the side-effects of each insecticide.
Some are toxic and can affect your health. Therefore, you should always wear a mask and have adequate air supply while spraying your house

Fire extinguisher

This is a fire fighting device in case of an outbreak. It is a cylindrical vessel that contains an agent that is usually discharged to extinguish a fire It is important to inspect and service it after a certain period of time. The kitchen is the first place where you will need a fire extinguisher. Every house should be having one to two. If you are a tenant, you should press your landlord for one. It is advisable to place them at different corners of the house.

Emergency phone numbers

When you have emergency numbers, it is possible to call for help when in trouble. At times there may be fire, intruders, or a child might have swallowed poison. Examples of must-have emergency numbers include those of the National Poisons Board, the family doctor, the police, fire brigade and those of your close friends and relatives. Knowing the phone numbers of your immediate neighbours is highly advisable.

Baby gates

When a child ts learning how to walk or crawling, he or she visits all the places in the house. One should always know where the child is. But for the sake of safety, baby gates should be fixed in places that babies are not supposed to go on their own. Example are the bathroom, toilet, store, kitchen and staircases.

Door stoppers

Swinging doors can come in the way of your baby or be swayed by wind towards your baby – especially when windows are open during windy weather, and cause harm. It is therefore advisable to install foor stoppers and to keep doors closed, especially when you have a crawling or newly walking toddler.

Cabinet locks

Each and every drawer in the house should be locked at all times. This is because when kids are young, they touch and eat everything they are able to reach. Depending on their size, some may even go in and out of drawers. Cabinets where poisonous substances are kept are especially critical to lock, be sure to secure medicine, pesticides, paraffin, etc.

Security

A peep hole and a door bell are inexpensive but useful security installations.

Furniture straps

InstalI straps on the seats of your baby, especially high chairs. When kids are young, it is not advisable to leave them alone sitting on such chairs as they may end up falling and getting hurt.

END:PG46/54