A safe home environment is important for your family and any guests you invite
into your home. You can make your home safer—inside and out—by making some
simple improvements. Here are some ways you can safeguard your home to minimize
accidents:
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Prevent falls from happening at your home by keeping stairs and pathways free
of clutter. If you have an infant, install a gate at the top and bottom of
stairs. Make sure all stairs and steps inside and outside your home have
handrails along both sides the full length of the stairway. Use bright lights
at the top and bottom of stairways. Also, make sure nightlights are easily
accessible in hallways and other dark areas in your home.
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Over half of fire and burn-related injuries take place in the home. Measures
you can take to prevent fire and burn-related injuries include installing smoke
alarms on each level of your home, setting your water heater no higher than 120
degrees, making sure someone is present when food is cooking on the stove or a
candle is burning, hiding away matches and lighters from children, and
determining fire exits to escape a fire in your home.
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Most poisoning injuries are a result of young children getting into household
cleaners or chemicals that are stored in unlocked spaces. Check the places
where you store cleaning products and other chemicals, and make sure they have
child-resistant seals and are stored in hard-to-reach, locked cabinets. Keep
the national poison control center’s number readily available in the event that
a poisonous substance is accidentally ingested by your child.
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Carbon monoxide is a poison that is odorless and invisible. It’s produced by
fuel-burning appliances and equipment in your home. Install a carbon monoxide
detector to warn you if the carbon monoxide level becomes dangerous.
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Injuries can happen just as easily outside of your home. Some things you can do
to prevent outside mishaps include putting ladders and other tools away after
use, covering the ground under playground equipment with a safety material such
as wood chips or mulch, filling your lawnmower with gasoline outside of the
garage, and keeping children away from the barbecue grill when lit.
Being aware of how accidents can happen in your home will better prepare you to
take the precautions necessary to ensure your home is a safe one.
