If you do not hesitate to put fans in the children’s room when it is very hot, you should take these precautions.
During the hottest season, high temperatures force us to use devices such as air conditioners or fans to cool the environment.
The use of fans is much more common in homes, as these are cheaper than air conditioners.
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Risk of fans in children’s rooms
Fans in the children’s room are easily installed by simply plugging them in and are very convenient because they are portable.
But these devices, like many other electronic devices, can be dangerous to children.
Whether it is a blade fan, ceiling fan, standing fan, table fan or tower fan, fans in the children’s room have considerable risks, including:
- The blade fans are very attractive for the little ones who watching the speed with rotating blades and the noise that is produced, so they are tempted to insert their hands or fingers into these devices. Even when there are grids or protective meshes, many children are at risk of being cut when putting their hands or fingers near the fan, causing injuries that can be very serious.
- The ceiling fans are not recommended for children’s rooms that sleep in bunk beds. The curiosity of children should not be underestimated, because having very close to the blades, they can try to touch them, hang themselves or place things on them.
- The standing fans or table fans, can also pose a risk, since children may try to introduce any object into the fan as a pencil, a paper, a small toy or any other object that is on hand to see what happens. It is a danger because if the object breaks, the fragments can be embedded in their face or eyes. In addition to damaging the device, the appliance may turn on the child and cause injury.
- The long hair also represents a danger near a fan. If they get too close to the fan, the hair can become tangled and the child will suffer a painful pull, or the strand may even have to be cut to free it.
Negative effects of fan on child health
In addition to the accidents that can occur, the use of fans in children’s rooms without proper care can have negative effects on the health of infants.
- The fans circulate the air throughout the room, but also any particles that are in the environment such as dust, lint, pollen, etc. If your child suffers from any type of allergy, the use of ventilators is not recommended, since allergic conditions can worsen or cause other respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis and, in more extreme cases, nosebleeds.
- When using this type of ventilation during the night, the mucous membranes are dried, responsible for stopping the passage of dust or other agents dangerous to health.
- The natural moisture of the eyes and skin is also altered, producing irritation and dryness, respectively.
However, there is a study published by the American Medical Association, in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, on ventilator use and decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
According to the results published in this journal, using a fan allows air to circulate throughout the room, preventing babies from inhaling the carbon dioxide they produce, which is one of the possible causes of sudden death in babies.
It is indicated that the risk is decreased by 72%, compared to other newborns who sleep in rooms without this type of ventilation, and that the decrease becomes even more significant (up to 94%) when a fan is used in a hot room.
Check also: How to help your child get the best sleep
How to avoid fan hazards in children’s rooms?
Taking this into consideration, in addition to the impossibility of installing an air conditioning system, some recommendations can be followed to avoid the dangers it represents and get the most out of the use of fans.
- First of all, opt for fans without blades or tower fans, to avoid the risks that we have already mentioned about putting hands, fingers or objects in the fan.
- Place the fan to swing, but without pointing it directly at the infant while he sleeps, keeping the room cool, ventilated and avoiding sudden changes in temperature or dryness in the child’s mucous membranes and eyes.
- Do not encourage games with the fan, making noises in front of the air that comes out or placing the hair in front of it to disheveled, since children tend to imitate what adults do, without being aware of the risk that this type of behavior can represent.
- Frequently clean dust and dirt from the blades or to avoid the possibility of developing respiratory diseases.
- If you choose ceiling fans, avoid placing streamers or any other pendant that attracts the attention of children.
So you can keep the environment of your home and children’s rooms fresh, economically and safely.