Educating everyone
No matter how well you have
furnished your apartment with locks,
they can’t prevent accidents if they’re
not used.
Education for every member
of the household, including helpers
and visiting friends and relatives, is
crucial. There’s no point having a lock
on a balcony door if Grandpa goes out
for a cup of tea and then comes back
in forgetting to secure the door behind
him. If family members or guests need
reminders, there’s no harm in placing
signs which read, “Don’t forget to use
the lock,” in strategic places around
your home.
But if you have any doubt those
instructions will be followed, listen
to the advice from child specialists.
Dr Jessica Ho from welfare agency
Against Child Abuse says, for families
with children aged five and under,
there should be only two options when
it comes to windows.
“Screw windows shut so they
can’t be opened at all, or put bars
on them,” she says. “Pre-schoolers
and kindergarteners are very active
explorers, and they have so much
curiosity, but no awareness of danger.”
Dr Ho says children aged six
and over will start to develop an
understanding of caution, but risk still
exists. “Any child can become excited
while waiting for Daddy or Mummy to
come home, or visitors to arrive, and
forget all about window safety,” she
warns.
The agency provides a home
visitation programme for new parents
and parents new to Hong Kong who
wish to create a kid-safe environment.
Trained volunteers will share
experiences and advise on all potential
dangers, both obvious and hidden.
Another consideration when
setting up house in a high-rise is the
safety of those down below. It can be a
fascinating experiment for a toddler to
stick a not-so-treasured toy through a
small gap and see what happens when
they let go. Education and supervision
can minimise the chances of nasty
surprises from above.
While there are potential perils,
living at lofty heights is a reality for
most of us in Hong Kong, and can
be an extremely positive experience
for the whole family. Larger
apartment blocks will usually provide
better facilities for kids, including
playgrounds, leisure rooms, swimming
pools and tennis courts. There are also
likely to be more children around who
are available for quick and easy play
dates. Just a few precautions to keep
little ones safe on the inside will help
everyone rest a little easier.
May 2014
89
Apartment Safety Checklist
1
Secure: Install locks or bars on all
windows, and secure doors leading
to balconies, rooftops and utility
platforms.
2
Educate: Inform children,
teenagers and all adults in the
household (including visitors) of the
house safety rules.
3
Remind: Strategically place signs
for windows and doors to be kept
closed and locked.
