"Commit a Minute" to Safety this September

NORTHBROOK, Ill., September 7, 2011 - As part of Baby Safety Month this September, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a world leader in advancing safety, is reminding parents to commit a minute to safety. Because 2.5 million children are injured in their homes every year, reducing children's exposure to potential safety hazards is crucial.

In fact, safety does not have to take a lot of time - it is often the little things that can prevent a lifetime of regret. UL suggests parents and caretakers to commit a minute to review a few easy-to-follow home safety guidelines to help protect their child.

"The most important tip this September is to keep safety top-of-mind for children of all ages," says John Drengenberg, consumer safety director for UL. "Whether you have an infant or a toddler, it's important to take that extra minute to ensure your surroundings are safe and look for the UL Mark.

To help families stay safe this month, UL suggests reviewing these easy-to-follow tips to help protect your child at any age with this interactive guide - Childhood Safety Timeline:

• Inspect your home from a baby's point of view
  Get down on your hands and knees and search each room for objects or situations that may endanger your baby.
• Eliminate small toys & other objects
  Remove all small toys and other objects within your baby's reach. A good rule of thumb is if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it's too small!
• Install outlet covers
  Tour your home and cover all electrical outlets with outlet covers to prevent any injury to your baby.
• Lock toilet lids
  Install lid locks on all the toilets in your home to keep your child safe should he or she take an unsupervised trip into the bathroom.
• Shop for a safe crib & purchase a flame-retardant mattresses
  When purchasing a crib, make sure there is no more than 2 3/8 inches between slats; corner posts do not extend more than 1/16 of an inch above the end panels; and headboards and footboards do not contain cutout areas.

For a complete Baby Safety package, including the Childhood Safety Timeline for families, visit http://www.safetyathome.com/.