Simple, Quick and Easy Ways to Childproof Your Home Published January 2, 2013 | By editormbc Most child injuries occur around the home. While there is no replacement for proper adult supervision, there are many strategies that can make your home safer and child friendly. START by crawling around – and see the world as your child sees it. You may find dangers you didn’t know were there! Use these simple solutions to make your home safer for your young ones! Living Room Safety o Affix corner cushions on hard and sharp furniture corners, desks and tables. o Prevent doors from slamming –Use door locks or door stoppers. o Ensure blind cords cannot be reached by kids as they are a strangulation hazard. o Cover all electrical outlets and use power strip covers to secure electrical wires. o Separate plants and babies. Some plants can be poisonous. Kitchen Safety o Install latches, catches, locks and mag-locks on cabinet doors and drawers. o Prevent access to food preparation areas, stove and ovens. o Poisons or toxic materials should not be under the sink. Place them high up out of baby’s reach. o When cooking, all pot handles should be turned inward. Use back burners whenever possible. Bathroom Safety o Prevent scalds by ensuring your hot water system is set a maximum of 50°C/122 °F. o Teach the family to put the toilet lid down and close the door when leaving. o Remove all soaps, razors and shampoos from around the edge of the bathtub. o The bathtub spout can be covered with a spout cover preventing the child from burning themselves or slamming their head against it and causing injury. About The Author – Gloria Mankani is a managing partner at B-Safe, UAE’s first Child Safety Retail Store. A professional childproofer and a member of International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS, USA), Gloria’s aim is to lower the Child Injury incidents in the Middle East by creating awareness around child safety.

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Get the right Gate! Published February 3, 2013 | By editormbc If your baby is walking or crawling, it’s time to buy a child safety gate to keep them away from dangerous areas. But how do you decide which gate to buy? Here are some guidelines! Know the Types of Gates Screw Fitting Stair Gates – These can be used at the top of stairs or on doorways. Fairly easy to install, they do require fixings to be screwed to the wall. However, when fitted properly, these gates are most sturdy and cannot come loose. Pressure Fitting Stair Gates – These are easy to fit without the need for screws, as they expand outward until they become wedged into the doorframe. These gates are ideal for separating rooms that are on the same level. Retractable Stair Gate – These gates are like a roller blind on its side with a tough fabric to withstand a 100kg impact. They need to be screwed to the wall. Consider the unsafe areas If you are trying to keep baby away from a staircase, you need to install a hardware-mounted gate, especially on top of a stairway. Pressure mounted gates are dangerous on the top of the stairway as your child can push the gate over. In addition, there is a bottom rail on all pressure mounted gates that is a major tripping hazard. If you just want to keep them out of the kitchen, a pressure-mounted gate is sufficient. Consider the Dimensions Know your doorway’s /stairway’s width before you go shopping. It’s best to choose adjustable gates that can be expanded or reduced in width. The parameters to choose a gate should be safety first, followed by ease of use, and aesthetic value. Whatever gate you choose, make sure it complies with Safety Gate Standards of the country it has been manufactured in. About The Author – Gloria Mankani is a managing partner at B-Safe, UAE’s first Child Safety Retail Store. A professional childproofer and a member of International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS, USA), Gloria’s aim is to lower the Child Injury incidents in the Middle East by creating awareness around child safety.

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Why Child-proofing your home is important? I am often asked why childproofing is important – isn’t this a fad? Here are a few reasons why you should take this seriously: · To ensure the child’s safety · To ensure peace of mind for parents · To protect valuable possessions · To not overwhelm young children with “no’s.” Safety The moment a baby starts navigating around the floor by rolling and crawling, safety becomes a big concern. Parents seldom realize how much harmful stuff is in just one room until their child starts exploring. Peace of Mind Parents are forever scanning the environment to make sure there is nothing harmful their young child can get into. A child-proof home allows parents to relax their vigilance and feel secure about their home environment. Protect Your Valuable Possessions Today we all indulge in collectibles, audio equipment, video and CD collections, computers, vases, expensive home decor… the list is endless. Given a choice, we would like to protect these possessions by keeping them away from curious toddlers. Child-proofing is the answer. Not Overwhelming Children with No’s Parents use the word ‘No’ to restrict a child’s movement. However, when no’s are repeated extensively, the word no loses its meaning. Hearing all those no’s sets up a war between toddler and parent—the toddler actually becomes inspired by the no’s to have his way. So much correction in the form of no’s communicates to a young child that he/she is not in their parent’s favor and is doing something wrong. This can also affect a young child’s self-esteem. About The Author – Gloria Mankani is a managing partner at B-Safe, UAE’s first Child Safety Retail Store. A professional childproofer and a member of International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS, USA), Gloria’s aim is to lower the Child Injury incidents in the Middle East by creating awareness around child safety.

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The most common unintentional injury to children in the home is injury from a fall. Children living in apartment buildings are at a five times greater risk to falls from windows than those living in single family homes, but any window could pose a risk. Nearly half of the injuries from falls affect children under 4 years old, making this a critical age group for parents and caregivers to take extra precautions regarding supervision and preventative measures. To avoid falls, try to: ´ Install gates both at the top and at the bottom of the staircase ´ Restrict access to outdoor balconies and railings with high door latches and locks on the doors leading to them. ´ Always use safety straps when children are in highchairs, strollers, or wherever they are provided to help prevent falls. ´ Use banister shield for any railing with horizontal or decorative designs, vertical baluster spacing greater than 3 inches apart. ´ Use absorbent non-skid rugs in bathrooms. ´ Make children wear properly fitted helmets and appropriate padding when using tricycles, bicycles, scooters, skates. Additionally, try to avoid common mistakes such as: ´ Keeping furniture or other structures (such as stool, chair, ladder etc.) near the railing of a balcony, window or staircase. ´ Leaving a baby unattended on any elevated surface, such as a bed or sofa. ´ Not wiping wet surfaces immediately. ´ Using pressure mounted gates on the top of the stairs. Top of stairway should always have a screw fitted gate. ´ Using wheeled baby walkers – try using stationary play stands instead. For more information on falls and what products you can use to avoid falls, you can call 800-BSAFE (27233). About The Author – Gloria Mankani is a managing partner at B-Safe, UAE’s first Child Safety Retail Store. A professional childproofer and a member of International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS, USA), Gloria’s aim is to lower the Child Injury incidents in the Middle East by creating awareness around child safety.

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Here is a quick checklist for you to ensure that you have a Safe and Merry Christmas! Choosing the ‘Safe Tree’

1. If you are using a real tree, be sure it is fresh (it isn’t already loosing needles). If you wish to buy an artificial tree, be sure the label reads “Fire Resistant.” Use power strip covers (extension covers), socket covers and outlet covers and cord clamps to protect children from touching sockets and live wires. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted. Decorating your ‘Safe Tree’
2. Always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places
3. Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food, which may tempt a child to eat them. This Christmas, B-Blessed, B-Safe. About The Author – Gloria Mankani is a managing partner at B-Safe, UAE’s first Child Safety Retail Store.

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A mother was so horrified by the story of a five-year-old boy falling to his death from a window in Dubai''s JLT that she gave up her job and started her own safety company. Gloria Mankani’s daughter was just two years old in September 2011 when the tragedy happened. Following the death fall, Mankani scoured Dubai for safety locks for her doors and windows. But when she couldn’t find what she needed, Mankani decided to take action. Just over a year later, she has opened her own shop, B-Safe, at Times Square Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road. Mankani told 7DAYS: “The tragedy in JLT was one of the things that forced me into taking this step. I was living in a 28-floor apartment in the Marina when it happened. “I went around searching for locks and latches and childproofers - but I couldn’t find a single childproofer.” So Mankani gave up her job as a senior media executive and headed to the US where she gained hands-on experience of childproofing homes with the International Association for Child Safety. She is also affiliated to RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the UK and became the exclusive partner of Childproofers of St Louis, US, an organisation with more than 20 years of experience in making homes safe. Her daughter, Diva, now three, is the main tester for safety devices. Mankani said: “Every product we stock has been tried in my own house and if it didn’t work on Diva, it doesn’t get sold. She is my inspiration.” B-Safe has more than 200 child safety items, from window locks and latches to door guards. Prices start from Dhs10. It also offers childproofing consultations.

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To prevent burn-related injuries in children, childproofing homes is strongly advised, said Gloria Mankani, owner of Bsafe, a child safety store in Dubai. She told Gulf News, “Especially in the kitchen, measures should be taken to prevent a child from reaching the stove and kitchen appliances. Parents should also regulate the bath water using a bath thermometer.”

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Parents think accidents are a way of growing up, says Gloria Mankani, owner of Bsafe, the UAE’s only child safety store. ‘‘They need to move with the times and understand that risks in today’s world have changed and safety measures for their children is a critical requirement,’’ she says. With both parents in some households working, there is a big reliance on domestic staff who have little or no training, and who are recruited from low-income countries.

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"B-Safe", an exclusive retail outlet which will offer childproofing consultation and unique solutions for preventing injuries at home, at play, and outdoors, has been launched in the UAE. Located at the Times Square Center in Dubai, the new store has been started by a mother and entrepreneur with a humble mission to prevent injuries amongst children in the UAE. B-Safe outlet carries more than 200 unique child safety items, from window locks and latches to door guards, balcony mesh, banister shields, and staircase gates – all under one roof, providing ultimate convenience to parents, said its founder.

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DUBAI: With a humble mission to prevent injuries among children in the UAE, a mother and entrepreneur took the initiative to create change, by launching the country’s first exclusive child safety retail outlet named ‘B-Safe’, which is located at the Times Square Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. By founding the outlet, the ‘momprenuer’ Gloria Mankani aims to reduce rising cases of child injuries and mortality due to negligence and lack of childproofing products. She offers childproofing consultation and unique solutions for preventing injuries at home, at play and outdoors. “We carry more than 200 unique child safety items, from window locks and latches to door guards, balcony mesh, banister shields, and staircase gates - all under one roof, providing ultimate convenience to parents,” says Mankani. “The outlet also provides value-added services like home safety assessment, free onsite consultation and childproofing services, to encourage a safer environment,” she added. Mankani further remarked, “While searching for childproofing options for my own apartment a year ago, I realised a gap in the market both in terms of products and intellectual knowledge base. “In 2011, the UAE witnessed multiple cases of child injuries and accidents, some of which proved fatal for children. Realising the latent demand and much needed awareness and knowledge around the subject, I decided to gain professional knowledge in childproofing and collaborate with leading organisations around the world to bring the best of childproofing products in the UAE.” “Today, we are proud to launch the UAE’s first child safety store with a mission to reduce unintentional injuries to children by preventing accidents at home, at play and on the way.”

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