Spring Cleaning and SafetyGreat news--spring is just around the corner. With thoughts of sunny warmer longer days and outdoor fun, we look forward to the change of season. Amidst these wonderful thoughts, we also turn our attention turns to spending a little extra time cleaning up the old winter dust and build up--the annual "Spring Cleaning". Clean out the medicine cabinet. The medicine cabinet all too often becomes the last stop for old bottles of expired or unidentified medicines. This is a good time to sort through them and flush down the toilet any of the unused or unusable medications. For the remainder of the necessary medications, be sure to store the rest in a high spot and lock them up, keeping them away from little curious hands. Check the alarms. Test the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and be sure to change the batteries. Also, review the instruction manuals for any additional maintenance the particular alarms might need. Create fire escape plan. Develop and practice a family fire escape plan in case of emergency. Update the emergency phone list. Confirm important emergency numbers and place a list by the phone and make sure these are also programmed in all cell phones. Refresh the childproofing. As children grow and develop, their childproofing requirements change with them. Take the time to check each room to identify and correct potential hazards. Check for recalls. Visit www.recalls.gov and review listed toys and items. Be sure to check the house, yard and car for any of those items and remove them. Select household cleaning products carefully. Household cleaners can contain dangerous potential poisons for young children. Read labels carefully, and try to find the safest products for the job. Do not mix cleaning products or use more than one on a particular surface; items that are safe when used alone can become hazardous when mixed with other cleaners. Of course, never leave any products unattended and when the cleaning is completed, store everything in a secure, out of reach area. Check the yard. Exam the play area for sharp objects, poisonous plants, and tripping hazards and correct any issues. By following the above measures, you and your family will be off to a good start for the rest of the year and a safe and happy spring! Dr. Monica Marlowe practices general pediatrics with Pediatric Physicians, PC of Roswell and Windward. If you have a pediatric question of general interest, please submit it to advice@PediatricPhysiciansPC.com. One of the board certified pediatricians from Pediatric Physicians, PC will answer a selected question in this column each month. Back to list of articles 
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