Creating a safe environment where your family can grow and thrive is a top priority. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your family safe. Consult this guide of nine common safety hazards in the home for quick, simple solutions to keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way.
1.Falls. Injuries due to falls are one of the most common household hazards. Wet floors, slippery stairs, and scattered toys all create the potential for falls.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Stabilize Staircases
- Clear Outdoor Steps
- Secure Bathrooms
- Corral Toys
2.Fires. Home fires can cause everything from mild smoke damage to total devastation, including loss of life. Even candles or an unattended iron could lead to an accidental fire in your home, but there is a lot you can do to prevent a fire from getting out of hand.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Install Fire Alarms
- Monitor Candles
- Purchase a Fire Extinguisher
3.Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Low exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can cause headaches and dizziness, while high levels can lead to vomiting, impaired vision, and even death. Carbon monoxide is virtually impossible to detect by smell, sight, or sound, making it a difficult threat to discern. But there are things you can do to ward off CO-related injuries.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Install a CO Detector
- Keep Up Home Maintenance
4.Choking. Choking is the country’s fourth-largest cause of accidental death. From a bit of dinner going down the wrong way to a youngster accidentally swallowing a small item, choking is scary. Educate yourself about choking hazards and take measures to keep your family safe.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Inspect Toys
- Keep Dangers Out of Reach
- Monitor Playtime
- Cut Up Food
5.Cuts. This one seems like a no-brainer, but unfortunately there are many common items with sharp edges that are used inside and outside your home. Everything from an opened can to a garden hoe can present danger.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Close the Trash
- Store Kitchen Supplies
- Put Away Yard Tools
- Lock the Bathroom
- Point Knives and Forks Down
6.Poisoning. Several household items present poisoning hazards, including cleaning and home maintenance supplies. However, a little diligence and the right know-how can decrease the chance of anyone in your family becoming a victim.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Store Medications Properly
- Keep Paint Out of Reach
- Make Sure Chemicals Are Secure
- Put Away Personal Products
- Lock Up Detergent
7.Strangling. Cords on window dressings like blinds or curtains present a hazard to small children and infants. Here are a few ways you can help make your home safer for little ones.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Put Cords Away
- Trim or Remove Window Cords
8.Drowning. Drowning isn’t only a risk outdoors during summer—it can also present a hazard in the home. Deaths from drowning in a bathtub have increased by 70% in the past decade, so do your part to prevent this from occurring.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Put Away Buckets
- Attend to Bathing Children
9.Burns. Burns may not seem like a common household hazard, but they can be caused by both dishwashers and stoves. These convenient appliances pose risks, especially to small children. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can help ensure no one in your family is burned.
Ways to minimize risks:
- Latch the Dishwasher
- Use Back Burners
- Add Stove Knob Covers
Nothing is more important than keeping your family safe. Knowing what to look out for and which precautions to take makes your job as family protector a little easier, but no one can be on duty all the time, so you may want to get some help protecting your loved ones with a monitored security system. Most current systems offer home automation and remote access so you can make sure everything is okay as often as you want.
Adapted from https://bit.ly/2rBA5V4