Our precious little bundles. We so want to protect them! Unfortunately, we can't surround them in bubble wrap until they graduate from high school, so we simply must take our next best measures to create havens of safety and security for our children.

Here's one shocking fact: Home accidents are responsible for more fatal injuries than any other cause except motor vehicle accidents. And another shocking fact: Home accidents amount to 18,000 deaths and nearly 13 million injuries a year. And here is YOUR fact...you'll be an exception. You will. And you'll do it by following the guidelines below to prevent the four leading causes of injury or death by home accidents.

Danger #1: Suffocation and Choking

While more than a third of choking or suffocation fatalities are associated with food, there are many other risks for injury throughout the home, particularly to small children.

Help reduce the risk by keeping a watchful eye on little ones and taking a few preventive steps:

Never place infants face down on soft bedding or pillows. They can't raise their heads and might not be able to get enough oxygen. Avoid large stuffed animals.

Keep plastic bags out of children’s reach, and tie bags in a knot before disposing.

Cut children’s food into small pieces, and be sure to chew your own food thoroughly.

Keep balloons away from babies and toddlers, who can swallow them and choke.

Keep your eye on infants around strangulation risks such as window blind cords, long telephone cords, drawstrings, necklaces and headbands.

Danger #2: Drowning

As children learn to play and explore, water from a pool, spa, bathtub or bucket can be a delight. However, a child can drown swiftly and silently in as little as 2 inches of water.

These measures can help prevent this tragedy:

Don’t leave buckets of water around the house when you're cleaning.

Never leave an infant unattended in the bathtub.

Watch children around the washing machine and toilet. Use toilet safety locks to keep toddlers from falling in.

Don’t leave children unattended in a pool, wading pool or hot tub, even if they're in a flotation device.

Empty out small plastic pools as soon as you’re done using them.

Install self-closing and self-latching gates and doors leading to the pool or spa. Latches should be above a child's reach, and gates should open outward.

Obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification for infants and children.

Be sure your babysitter understands pool safety measures. Train her in CPR.

Danger #3: Falls

The popular 1990s medical alert television commercial catchphrase "I’ve fallen…and I can’t get up!" might not seem so funny when it involves a potential injury. Falls account for more than a third of all injury deaths and are the leading cause of home injuries.

Here’s how you can stay safer:

Eliminate tripping hazards such as electrical cords, throw rugs and slippery bathtubs.

Install nightlights near stairways, in hallways and in dark areas.

Secure loose rugs with non-skid pads.

Apply non-skid strips to bathtubs and showers.

Keep stairways clear of toys, shoes and other items.

Clean up spills immediately.

Purchase a sturdy step stool with a handrail so you can reach things safely.

Pay attention to areas that pose problems such as showers, cribs and stairways.

Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

Be sure to follow ladder safety rules, including proper angles, setup on solid and level ground, and other commonsense precautions.

Danger #4: Poisonings

Millions of people are poisoned every year, and children under age six are at the greatest risk. According to national safety studies, more than two-thirds of homes with young children report storing household chemicals in unlocked places.

Every family can take steps to avoid a poisoning injury:

Keep harmful household chemicals in an out-of-reach, locked cabinet.

Never leave children alone with household products or medications. If you're using a product and you need to answer the door or the telephone, take your child with you. Most poisonings occur when the product is in use.

Install child locks on cabinets, especially where you store harmful items.

Keep household medicines and poisonous products in their original, labeled, child-resistant containers.

Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

Keep the number of your local poison control center near your phone or program it into your speed dial. The national poison control center number is (800) 222-1222.

An Ounce of Prevention…

When it comes to home injuries, the old saying really does ring true: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Common sense about safety, keen supervision of children and a hands-on approach to injury prevention can help protect your loved ones from the common causes of household accidents.

One way you can ensure that your nest is safe is to have a yearly inspection performed by a qualified, professional home inspector. Our local, trusted partners are reliable, affordable and ready to help.

[main image: Bonita Cooke | Flickr Collection | Getty Images]