With cities expanding vertically, apartments in Trivandrum are becoming the new norm these days. Apartments come with their own unique challenges, especially when it comes to the safety of your precious little ones.

Here’s a look at some basic safety tips for those living with kids in apartments:

Secure your balconies

Ensure that your balconies are child-proof and come with tight railing spaces that are resistant to kids getting stuck within them. Don’t leave kids unattended on your balcony.

Window guards

Place your furniture away from windows so kids can’t access them easily. Install effective window guards and safety locks to prevent accidental falls.

Electrical points

Kids are very curious by nature; hence all low-level electrical outlets should have childproof covers. Consider keeping excess wiring and cords out of reach of children and prevent choking accidents and electrocution hazards.

Fire threats

Check whether your apartment has a fire escape plan in place and ensure that your kids always remember the escape routes. Install smoke detectors in key areas of the apartment too.

Childproof the apartment

Make your apartment child-safe by covering electrical outlets, applying corner-guards on sharp-edged furniture and most importantly, by installing safety gates on exit doors and balcony doors, etc.

Secure storage cabinets

All hazardous materials like cleaning supplies, medications and sharp objects should be stored safely out of the reach of kid’s curious hands. Install child-proof locks and latches on these cabinets.

Emergency protocol

Always keep a first aid kit at home, suitable for all common home emergency situations. Let your kids know how to use the phone and which numbers to call in case of any emergency.

Heavy furniture

To prevent tipping over accidents, heavy pieces of vertical furniture need to be securely anchored to the walls. Such furniture can include heavy bookcases, TV stands or chest of drawers.

Neighborhood watch

Getting to know your neighbors and creating a supportive and watchful community also ensures that your kids get to grow up in a safer and secure environment.

Communal areas

Do ensure that your kids are always supervised when in the common areas of your apartment complex. These areas could be the hallways, elevators, playground, swimming pool, etc. Always have a behavior protocol in place when outdoors.