Home Safety

Source: National Safe Kids Campaign (www.safekids.org)

Protecting Your Family

There are two steps everyone can take to protect children at home.
Childproof your home and Supervise your children at all times.

First, childproof your home.
The best way to find dangers your child might encounter is to explore your home at her level - by getting down on your hands and knees. Cover every room, asking yourself what looks tempting and what is within reach (between the floor and about 40 inches above). Also, check carpets for buried dangers like pins or coins.

Second, understand that childproofing can never be 100 percent effective. That's why it's so important to supervise your children at all times, especially around water, in the kitchen and bathroom, and wherever known hazards exist.

Childproofing Basics

In the Kitchen:

• Keep hot foods and liquids away from young children. The vast majority (95 percent) of microwave burns among children are scald burns. Microwave burns are typically caused by spilling hot liquids or food, and injuries are primarily associated with the trunk or the face.
• Use the back burners on the stove and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
• Keep glassware, knives, appliance cords, placemats and tablecloths out of reach and away from the edge of counters and tables. If your child is visiting someone else's home, ensure dangerous items are stored out of reach during your child's stay.

In the Bathroom:

• Set the thermostat of your hot water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce the chance of scald burns. It takes just three seconds for a child to sustain a third degree burn from water at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Lock medicine cabinets. Even items as seemingly harmless as iron pills and mouthwash can be dangerous for a young child.
• Install toilet locks. Unlike adults, children's weight is concentrated in the top half of their bodies. When they lean into a toilet bowl, they may lose their balance, fall forward and drown in as little as 1 inch of water.
• Request child-resistant packaging. But keep in mind that child-resistant containers are not childproof. These medicines still need to be locked up out of a child's reach.
• Remove sharp utensils and appliances. Razors, scissors and blow dryers are better kept in an adult's bedroom, locked out of children's reach.

In the Bedroom:

• Beware of old cribs. Baby furniture built even a decade ago might not meet some of today's safety standards. Sharp edges, corner post protrusions and dangerously spaced slats can be deadly.
• Keep cribs and low-standing furniture (beds, bookshelves, toy boxes, chairs) away from windows, preferably against another wall.
• Infants and toddlers can pull on inner or "lift" cords of window blinds creating loops large enough to pull around their necks and strangle. The problem occurs when a corded window blind or shade is lowered but not locked into position. This leaves a small amount of slack on the inner cord and the child can pull it around her neck. Always lock blinds wh ether they are up or down.
• Window blinds sold after November 2000 have attachments on the pull cord so the inner cords can't form a loop. If you purchased your blinds before that date or are not sure, install cord stops on the outer pull cord to prevent the child from pulling on the inner blind cord (click on the web link below to see pictures).
• Window blinds made before 1995 have outer pull cords that end in a loop. If you have cords that are attached at the bottom that form a loop, cut the cord above the tassel, remove the buckle, and add a safety tassel at the end of each cord.
• Looped pull cords on vertical blinds and some draperies cannot be cut and still operate. A tie-down device or cleat must be used to reduce a child's access to the loop.
• When purchasing new window coverings make sure they meet current safety standards and do not have looped pull cords or inner cords that can be pulled to form a loop. Consider purchasing cordless window coverings.
• Free window safety kits that include safety tassels tie-down devices and cord stops are available for consumers. Click on the link below for the Window Covering Safety Council. The web site has simple pictures and instructions for installing safety devices to make your window cords safe. You can also call the WCSC at 1-800-506-4636.

Around the House

• Check for fire hazards. Look for frayed electrical wires or flammable materials near heat sources such as space heaters. Never run electrical cords under rugs. Make sure that your home, and any home your child visits, has working smoke alarms in every sleeping area and on every level.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping area and check batteries often. Exposure to even low levels of this poisonous gas can be fatal to a small child.
• Use safety gates. Stair falls tend to result in severe injuries. Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs to keep infants and toddlers out of harm's way.
• Cover all unused electrical outlets.
• If firearms are kept in the house, keep them locked, unloaded and stored out of reach. Secure ammunition in a separate, locked location.
• Install window guards on all windows that are not emergency exits. Window guards can be purchased at your local hardware store.
• Young children love to climb on furniture and use drawers and shelves as steps. However, children can sustain crush injuries as furniture can easily tip over on them. Secure bookcases, shelving, and heavy furniture to walls with brackets and anchors. When storing items, put heavier items on bottom shelves and in bottom drawers.
• Large items such as TV's, microwaves, fish tanks and appliances can topple off stands and fall on children. Use broad-based carts for TV's and appliances. Secure carts and appliances to walls. Avoid using pedestal tables to hold heavy items.
• Supervise children and toddlers at all times around furniture.

For Emergencies:

• Post emergency numbers by telephones. Post phone numbers for the poison control center, pediatrician, police, fire department, emergency medical services and a neighbor by every telephone. Also, clearly post the home address so that parents, caregivers, and children can easily tell emergency personnel how to locate the home.
• Keep first aid supplies on hand.

7 Crucial Tips For First Time Buyers

Source: By Cameron Huddleston for Kiplinger's/www.Kiplinger.com

If record-low mortgage rates and plummeting housing values have you primed to get into the market, don't get antsy - get educated. Here are some essential steps to take when buying your first home.

When buying a home...

Lay the groundwork. Our first step was figuring out how much house we could afford and how much we could borrow. If you're moving to a new community, be sure to find out what home prices are there. Housing prices can change dramatically from state to state and even city to city. You might also want to talk to friends or colleagues in the area about neighborhoods and other considerations only a local might know.

Take your time. We thought we were ahead of the game by looking on the Web for homes. But every house we found online that we really liked was snatched up before we had a chance to go to Kentucky to check them out. I started to worry that if we didn't move fast enough, all the "good" houses would be gone.

By the time we actually went to Kentucky to look at homes, we had only two months before my husband had to start his new job. I was determined to find something - anything. My husband, the levelheaded one, urged me not to rush. Did I listen? No. As a result we settled for a house that had only a few of the things I wanted and many of the things I didn't want.

In retrospect, I realize homes constantly come on (and off) the market. You might not find your dream home, but you don't have to settle for any old house just because you feel under the gun to buy something. Consider renting to give yourself time to find the right home.

Realize you won't find the perfect home. Forget the idea of finding your dream home. It doesn't exist. You will not find a house that has everything you want, and none of the things you don't. Real-estate agents tell you to make a list of what's important to you - size, condition, location, style and price. That way you can zero in on a home that comes closest to suiting your wants and needs.

We wanted an old home with hardwood floors, a small yard, a garage that didn't face the street and a basement. We got a newer home with wall-to-wall carpeting, a big yard, a garage in the front of the house and a crawl space. That's because we had to give up some things to get others - like a big kitchen and plenty of bedrooms.

Accompany the inspector. Most stories on homebuying advise you to have a home-inspection clause in your contract, giving you the right to have the property inspected and to withdraw your offer if the inspection report isn't satisfactory to you for any reason. What these stories often neglect to mention is that you should be present during the inspection. We weren't because we didn't want to spend the money on a flight to Kentucky. Now we know it would have been money well spent.

Sure, you'll get an inspection report. But it can be difficult making heads or tails of it. If you're present during an inspection, you can see problems with your own eyes, get an idea of how serious they are and ask the inspector how much he might think it will cost to repair them.
Pay attention to the little things. Because I thought I needed to rush to buy a home, I wasn't as objective during our home search as I should have been. When we finally walked into a house that met many of our requirements, we turned a blind eye to some things we should have paid closer attention to. And because the inspection didn't turn up any major problems, we decided to look past the minor ones. Well, it's the little things that can become big headaches once you move into a home.

Pay attention to how a home smells. A strong odor - especially a musty one - can be an indication of a bigger problem such as mold.

Look at small details, not just the big picture. If there are cobwebs in the corners, dirty windows, weeds in the lawn and leaves in the gutters, the sellers obviously didn't do a good job of keeping the property clean. If they haven't taken the time and money to maintain the little things, there's a chance they've let big things, such as plumbing or the heating and cooling system, fall into disrepair.

Don't think just because the house needs a few minor repairs or new paint on the walls, it will be cheap, quick and easy to tackle. Before you know it, the costs add up, it's taken a lot more time than expected and you've had to call in the experts to finish the jobs you couldn't handle on your own.

Be ready to negotiate. We got the sellers to lower their price by $7,000 and throw in a one-year home warranty, which will cover the cost of repairing or replacing the home's mechanical systems and major appliances. And we got a good deal on our homeowners insurance, with guaranteed replacement coverage at no extra cost.

Don't spend all your money on the down payment. If you're moving into your first home, you'll have to buy things you never needed before, such as lawn mowers, yard tools and major appliances. You'll need cash for these purchases unless you're planning to mire yourself in credit card debt.

When you're ready to move...
Check out the movers or moving truck. If you're entrusting all your worldly belongings to movers, make sure you check out the company first. We opted to take the cheaper route by renting a truck and making the move ourselves.

If you go this route, protect yourself by asking to see the truck's maintenance records. Also check the fluids and the lights before leaving the lot. Finally, be sure to take a good test drive before loading the truck.

We went through three trucks before we found one that we thought would make the trip. The first truck had a steering problem - the wheel jerked back and forth once the vehicle exceeded 40 mph. The second one made a loud squealing noise when we accelerated. The third was missing a taillight. All three had more than 100,000 miles on them. The fourth, we discovered 400 miles down the road, had a bad tire.

Get the sellers out before you move in. When we finally drove into our new home's driveway, we quickly discovered that the sellers had not packed a single box the day we arrived in Kentucky and were supposed to close on the house. An unsuspected lien on the house delayed our closing by a week. Because we didn't close and become the rightful owners of the house, we couldn't really tell them to hurry up and get out.

They were nice enough, though, to let us move our stuff into the garage while the closing fiasco was sorted out. It's pretty easy to guess what happened. While they were moving their stuff out, they mistakenly loaded some of our belongings onto their moving truck. We did get our things back (after I'd spent a night worrying they were lost forever).

Give yourself time to unpack. If you're relocating for a job, build in some time to clean your new home, unpack and get settled. As a result of the delay in our closing, we had a day to move in before my husband had to start his new job.

Solve Your Storage Problems

Source: All You/www.AllYou.com/www.MyHomeIdeas.com

Here is a smart strategy from All You to beat clutter in your family's favorite dumping ground -- the entryway -- by outfitting the space with the right organizing and storage gear.

Making Room

Tackle the four big problems that plague entryways -- shoes and bags, outdoor gear, pets, and purse fallout -- by giving each its own area.
The Gear Zone: Provide plenty of organized storage space for coats, school bags, sports equipment, and shoes.
The Wet Zone: Create a drip-safe area by lining a wall with oilcloth so there's a place for wet raincoats and umbrellas to dry.
The Pet Zone: Designate an area right next to the door for bowls, food, leashes, toys, and grooming gear.
The Communication Zone: Stash items like change, mail, and keys on a table.

Space for the Family

Adapt an armoire and shelving unit to make separate areas for kids' stuff and grown-ups' stuff. Carve out space for a small bench, and hide bulky items behind closed doors.
Out-of-season bins: Put hats, gloves, and scarves in pretty baskets or boxes on top of the armoire and bookcase. Divide the baskets by family member so it'll be easy to find each person's stuff.
Children's shoe space: Store your kids' shoes in bins you can tuck under the bench. Designate one for each child.
Family staging area: Personalize the outside of an armoire with chalkboard film and cork to create a message spot where everyone can check the calendar and then pack what's needed for the day's activities.
Adult coat and shoe storage: Use a divided armoire to hang adults' coats and to stash shoes and slippers.

Storage Solutions

Children's coat spot: Make it easy for kids to put away their jackets. Screw Shaker pegs into a chair rail at a height where they can reach.
Changing bench: Use a bench to encourage everyone to take the time to sit, remove shoes, and then stow them in the appropriate spot.

• Bags and sports gear shelving: Assign kids their own shelves in a large, decorative bookcase. They'll be able to store everyday things.
• Put heavy backpacks on the bottom shelf.
• Place balls on trays so they won't roll off.
• Make room for art supplies, overnight bags, and helmets.

Equipment bin: Gather tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks, and baseball bats in wire baskets.

By the Door

Find a place for everything you dump as you walk in the door or grab on the way out. Organize storage for cell phones, mail, purses, keys, and other small items.

Purses, keys, and little stuff:

• Pick a piece which has ample storage space.
• Arrange little bowls or trays on top to hold change and keys, and bins underneath for papers and magazines.
• Hang a mirror for a last look before leaving.
• Ask your kids to put anything needing your attention in a designated in-box.

Store purse must-haves -- tissues, lip balm, sunscreen -- here along with a lint roller you can use on your way out.

Mail Station

Shred junk mail daily. Keep a small cordless vacuum on hand to pick up dirt and mud that's tracked in.

Smart Drawer

Create a charging station -- mount a power strip in the back of the buffet drawer and drill a hole through the back of the piece for the cord. Dock cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronics.