People often look at their homes as safe-havens. This, unfortunately, isn’t always the case. According to data from the National Safety Council, approximately 125,300 preventable injury-related deaths happened in homes and communities in 2018.
Homeowners, therefore, should make creating a safe environment a priority. They don’t necessarily have to wear helmets and protective gear around the house all day. They do, however, need to keep an eye out for hazards and appliances that can pose a serious risk if they’re not careful.
Here are seven measures you can take to prevent you and your family from sustaining injuries inside the house:
Keep Your Floor Dry and Clean
Whether the beverage is water from the sink or an expensive Starbucks drink, spilling liquids onto the floor is common in busy household kitchens. If you don’t clean them up quickly, these spills could cause a nasty fall injury. So, make sure that your floor stays clean and dry at all times.
Purchase Pads for Area Rugs
Although an area rug can spruce up the look of living space, it can also be a source of injuries inside the home. If you’re going to install a rug to enhance your interior, remember to get a rug pad. Doing so can help prevent accidental trips.
Pro-tip: if you are concerned about a rug pad damaging your flooring, purchase a rubber pad with a non-slip grip. This product is generally safe for use on hardwood floors, such as a beautifully engineered floor made of oak.
Secure Cleaning Supplies and Medicine Cabinets
Kids are naturally curious. When you’re not looking, they may investigate medicine bottles and cleaning products tucked away in a drawer or hidden inside a cabinet.
Don’t let your little ones get a hold of these items. Install cabinet closers and childproof locks to prevent accidental ingestion of poisonous substances. Also, allocate time to teach your children about staying out of your medicine cabinet.
Declutter Your House
Keeping your house spick and span may be a challenge, especially when your entire family is staying at home. This, however, is not an excuse to keep the areas around your house disorganized.
Try to keep the rooms in your home as clean as possible, as objects like toys and clothes can be tripping and slipping hazards. If this job is too much for you to handle by yourself, get all the members of the family to clean the various areas in your house.
Practice Fire Safety
Fires have claimed thousands of lives and destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses in the United States. You could prevent fire-related injuries and accidents in your household by doing the following:
- Watch What You’re Cooking – Hot, greasy and unattended frying pans can quickly get out of control if you fail to check on them while cooking. So, keep your eyes on your next meal.
- Purchase a Fire Extinguisher – Buy at least one multipurpose fire extinguisher for your home. Ideally, you should place it near your stove or the fireplace. If you do have a fire extinguisher, check this device yearly to make sure that it’s in good working order.
- Monitor Candles – If you plan on lighting candles for romantic dinners, never leave them unattended. Also, keep this fire hazard out of reach from children and pets.
- Install Fire Alarms – Each level in your home should have at least one working fire alarm. Don’t forget to change the battery at least once a year for better fire safety.
- Check Your Outlets – Faulty wiring can cause electrical fires. Remember to inspect power cords and wiring connected to outlets for frays and other damage. Replace or fix them as necessary.
Use and Store Gardening Tools Properly
Yard tools, such as lawnmowers, saws and rakes, can inflict harm if households fail to use and store them properly. When using power tools, stay alert and never rush a lawn mowing job.
Once you have finished your gardening tasks, put away your yard tools in a shed. Then, lock up your shed to prevent children from accessing your tools.
Supervise Your Children Around Your Swimming Pool
Drowning is a real threat to kids. You can avoid this kind of tragedy by fencing in your pool and installing a self-latching gate. If your little one wants to get into the water, accompany them to the pool area and keep a close eye on them.
A safe home is important for households. By taking note of these seven tips, you can achieve maximum safety at home and create an environment where your little ones can grow and thrive
