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Clothes Dryers
Young children can easily fit into clothes dryers. It can be hard for them to climb out, may close the door behind themselves and become stuck. They are also at risk of falling from the appliance and injuring themselves should they attempt to climb it.
- Make sure you clean out your lint filter in the dryer before or after every load to avoid a potential fire hazard.
- Install front loading dryers at a height at least 1400mm above floor level to prevent young children climbing into the dryer.
- Ensure clothes dryers are secured when not in use.
- Dryer doors should be kept closed at all times.
- Appliance locks can be purchased to help prevent children opening dryer doors.
- Turn the dryer off at the wall when not in use.
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Hot Tap Water Scalds
Hot tap water scalds can leave life long scars. At 60°C hot tap water can cause a full thickness scald to a child’s skin in less than a second.
- Delivery temperature of Hot tap water should be controlled to a maximum of 50°C, which is the recommended temperature for preventing hot water scalds. Temperature control devises can be purchased, or the delivery temperature set to a maximum of 50°C by a plumber
- Fit tap covers to the hot water taps in the laundry
- Restrict a child’s access to a laundry by keeping the door closed when they are really young, or fixing a gate across the doorway.
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Iron Safety
Irons can cause serious burns if touched when hot. Precautions need to be taken when irons are in use, and irons need to be stored securely when not in use.
- Unplug the iron as soon as you have finished using it.
- Put it out of reach and out of sight – either at the rear of a high bench or in a secure cupboard.
- Allocate an area in the laundry for ironing and put the iron and board away after use.
- Install power points for appliances adjacent to the designated work area and not within the splash reach of tubs.
- To avoid burns from the iron, store it in an Iron Safe container. This allows you to put a hot iron away and out of reach of children as it cools down.
- Cords should always be kept out of reach of children; this not only prevents burns but also fires.
- Electricity and water do not mix: keep electrical cords and appliances away from water.
- Ironing boards are dangerous due to their instability. An iron centre attached to a wall is much safer.
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Safe Storage
Many cleaning products, bleaches, insecticides and other poisonous substances are often stored in the laundry. Particular attention needs to be paid to keeping these out of reach of children.
- Ensure all poisons are stored up high and out of reach in a locked cupboard. REMEMBER: LOCK POIOSNS UP AND AWAY.
- Fit all laundry cupboards with child resistant locks for safe storage of washing powder and cleaning chemicals.
- Do not store poisons or chemicals in any container other than the original to avoid confusion or poisoning.
- Plastic bags can result in suffocation and need to be stored out of reach and tied in the middle to prevent children from placing them over their head.
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Washing Machines
Water, electricity and heat can make washing machines dangerous items for inquisitive children. Consider the following to ensure that your children stay safe.
- Ensure the doors of front loading washers are closed when not in use to prevent young children climbing inside.
- Ensure washing powders and liquids are added immediately before use, and not left accessible to children.
- Use a laundry tub drainage by-pass for the washing machine to avoid potential scalding and drowning.
- Turn the machine off at the wall when not in use.
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Water Safety
Sinks pose the dangers of drowning and scalds. Measures can be taken to minimise these risks by regulating the water temperature and restricting child access.
- Be aware that buckets and containers used for washing/soaking are potential drowning hazards.
- Always drain the water from nappy buckets and washing machines when not in use and ensure nappy buckets have a firm lid and are stored up high. A child can drown in a little as 5cm of water.
- Ensure water temperature does not exceed 50°C in hot water outlets. The delivery temperature of hot water can be regulated by hot water tempering devices. Consult your local plumber for the options best suited to your system.
- Fit tap covers to the hot water taps in the laundry.
- Always drain the water sinks when not in use. Use nappy buckets to soak clothes whenever possible, ensuring that the have a firm lid and are stored up high. A child can drown in a little as 5cm of water.
- Ensure all floors are of a slip resistant surface or covered by a slip resistant mat.
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