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Baby Safe Homes: Minn. Couple Helps Baby Proof Young Family Homes

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- According to research by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, over a 10-year period there were 83 deaths at day care facilities across the state. Five percent of those were from choking. So, it is important to ensure that all homes containing young children are as safe as possible.

Meghan Hanson and her husband, Charlie, have a 10-month-old at home and that's a big reason why the couple together decided to purchase the first Baby Safe Homes franchise in Minnesota.

"My goal is for families to feel safe and secure and allow their children to grow safely," Meghan Hanson, co-owner for Baby Safe Homes, said.

Together the couple is now trying to help other families like their own. WCCO-TV joined the Hanson's for an in-home test. Charlie walked us through what to watch for and simple ways to "baby proof" your home.

"I'm looking for a fall hazard, choking hazards, poisons and burns," Charlie said.

The assessment took us to the home of the Fourdyce family, who continues to grow after welcoming their newest addition, Johnathan, two months ago.

"He's our youngest and James is going to be 2 in February, so James is just your everyday run of the mill rambunctious boy," Jason Fordyce said.

As the family prepares to become a licensed day care provider in Elk River, one the first steps Jason and his wife decided to take was making sure their home was as safe as possible.

So, Charlie started with their stairs, saying gates aren't one size fits all.

"So we do a configuration gate where that just stands alone all the way around the staircase," Charlie said.

Charlie does the in-home assessment for $75 fee and comes ready to do any installs. If you and your family decide to install any equipment, the install fee then is waved.

During the assessment, Charlie found power and electrical cords in a corner that needed to be organized and tucked away.

"This here my little guy (talking about his 10 month old son) would have grabbed it and the Wii is going to be on his head," Charlie said.

Some of his safety equipment will help tuck away electrical cords out of reach of young children.

"Any chemicals you have that could be hazardous, put them up high," rather than in bathroom cupboards, Charlie said.

As for your cupboards, he doesn't recommend rubber bands because he said they can dry off and break.

"There are things that you don't think about every day that Charlie has pointed out, maybe like the book shelf," Jason said.

While nothing is ever a sure thing with kids, Jason is hoping these small steps will help.

"My main goal is to leave there with them having a peace of mind of safety," Charlie said after the in-home assessment was complete.

To complete their business certification, Charlie is now a certified safety specialist - he was trained in California for this. Both he and Meghan also had to become members of the International Association for Child Safety.

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