• Make sure that there are working smoke detectors and a working fire extinguisher (and that your child knows how to use it).



• Make sure your doors have good locks (a deadbolt is best); if there is a security system, check to see if it's working and instruct your child how to turn it on and off.



• Create a list of telephone numbers. Begin with your local emergency number, such as 911, as well as both parents' work and cell phone numbers, if applicable. Then add other relatives or friends either at home or work and, if possible, a reliable neighbor who is usually at home during the day. Be sure to include your phone number, address, and cross street on the list-in an emergency, your child can get flustered and may forget this important information. Tape the list next to the telephone so it's always accessible.



• Put a basic first-aid kit in an obvious place, and check it from time to time to make sure it remains well stocked.



• Find a trustworthy neighbor who will be at home during the after-school times and can keep a key to your home in case your child forgets or loses her own.


• Lock up any guns and keep the ammunition locked in a separate place. It's safest to carry the keys with you to work.



• Make certain that the furnace, the water heater, and all appliances (especially in the kitchen) are in good working order, to minimize the risk of problems.



• Put a working flashlight in a special place (a certain drawer or hung with a magnet on the refrigerator door), and check it regularly to make sure the batteries are fresh. If you live in a two-story home, put one on both floors. That way, if there is a power failure, your child won't be left in the dark.



• If you know it will be dark in the afternoon when your child comes home, use timers to turn on some lights before she arrives.



• Make certain that any cleaning supplies or other poisons are stored in clearly marked containers with appropriate lids.

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