As any parent will tell you, the safety and comfort of their child is of utmost importance, and keeping a child of any age from a burning fireplace should be a top priority.
While constant supervision is best to keep your little one safe, there are other ways to help ensure that your child steers clear of the flames and intense heat, including:
-Child Play Yards: Child play yards provide a space for your child to play, containing them away from the fire. Child play yards often are large enough to allow your child to move around freely away from the fire. Just make sure the play yard is set up away from the fireplace.
-Fireplace screens: Fireplace screens block off the fireplace from your child, creating a perimeter around the flames. To create the safest environment for your child, install a screen that attaches to the hearth or a surrounding wall. Free-standing screens often can fall over, causing a different hazard for your child.
-Carbon monoxide detectors: Carbon monoxide is a by-product of burning and can create a dangerous situation since it’s colorless, odorless and deadly. Install carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home to help monitor the threat. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home immediately, and contact a qualified technician to rectify the issue. If someone in your home is experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, contact your local fire department.
-Padding: Many brick hearths have sharp corners and edges. Consider installing padding to the edges and corners to alleviate scrapes and bruises on your child.
Above all, and as stated before, constant supervision of little ones is required for fires. At Rooftop Chimney, we can provide other ways to keep you children safe when burning a fire. Furthermore, we can keep you safe with our chimney cleaning services that include a thorough inspection to ensure your chimney is structurally sound.
Whether you live in Washington, D.C., or Arlington, we can provide you with the fireplace services you need. For more information on how to keep your children safe, contact us today.