Waiting Rooms Pose Child Safety Dangers

For children, a waiting room is a new place to explore. When their parents or guardians are distracted, children may take the opportunity to wander. Their natural curiosity may put them in harm’s way.

Members should survey any waiting area where children may be for potential hazards and remedy them if hazards are found. Areas include lobbies, waiting spaces, interview rooms and other places where children may be present.

When surveying these areas, members should consider the following.

• Attractive nuisances: Are there any structures or furnishings that would invite a child to climb on, explore or play with? This may include railings, ledges, automatic doors, elevators or other furnishings not intended for a child’s interaction.
• Sharp edges or protrusions: Are there furnishings that have sharp edges or protruding hardware? Special attention should be given to the undersides of furniture where children may crawl.
• Tripping hazards: Are there changes in surface elevation, curled up or wrinkled rugs and other irregularities in the carpet or walking surface that create a tripping hazard?
• Entrapment: Are there openings that create an entrapment hazard? Spaces 3 inches to 9 inches wide can allow a child’s body to pass through but entrap the head. The spaces between balustrades on stairs and landings and also between furniture legs are among those that should be checked. In addition, if window blinds are present, the shade cords should be kept out of reach to prevent accidental strangulation.
• Choking hazards: Are small objects present that could become a choking hazard? Examples include tacks, magnets and paperclips.
• Electrocution: Are there outlets located within a child’s reach that present a shock hazard? Receptacles and open power strip outlets should be guarded to help prevent accidental contact with electricity.
• Cleanliness: Are toys, furniture and other surfaces regularly washed to prevent the spread of germs? Consideration should be given to installing furniture that allows for quick and thorough cleaning.
• Out of sight areas: Are there areas where a child may wander that are out of a guardian’s sight? Do these areas pose a hazard?

Members should look at waiting areas from a child’s perspective. Thinking about where and how a child may interact with the environment helps identify potential safety hazards.