Ways To Prevent Avoidable Accidents In The Home

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The home is meant to be a safe sanctuary. However, without taking the proper safety measures, it can cause many injuries (both minor and major) you experience. A report shows that the annual average of deaths from unintentional home injuries from 2000 to 2009 had increased and stood at 30,569. This figure may be troubling, but it is even more alarming to see that this number keeps growing by the day. It is crucial to keep the home as a safe place from the outside world. But, how can you ensure that your home is safe for you and your family and avoid accidents? Here are a few measures you should put in place to prevent avoidable accidents in the home environment.

1. Implement effective fire safety measures

It does not take much to get a fire started at home. A spark can turn into a big fire in five minutes and engulf the house, and things can become deadly within a few minutes after it started. According to the National Safety Council, fires and burns are the sixth leading cause of unintentional deaths in the home environment. This staggering position is why you must ensure that your home has adequate measures to keep you and your family safe from fire outbreaks. 

Be sure to place your portable heaters and candles away from furniture and curtains and put candles on surfaces where they would not be easily knocked off. If you have a smoking habit, do not smoke in bed. You may fall asleep with a lit cigarette in hand and cause a fire. You should also keep matches and lighters out of reach, and preferably out of sight, from your curious children. 

Many of the big fires reported usually start in the kitchen. To avoid burning your kitchen or causing fire-related injuries, do not leave your meals unattended, especially those involving hot oil. Just like at the workplace, ensure that your home has a fire escape plan or route and educate your family on the various precautions they should take if there should be a fire.

2. Implement safety heating measures

Although heating systems play a vital role in your home, there are several ways to create dangers. Therefore, you must take the proper measures to ensure that they do not cause a fiasco in your home. Since all fuel-burning appliances release waste gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), ensure that the air vents are not blocked to allow this dangerous gas to leave a room freely. Additionally, ensure heating systems are serviced regularly. If your heating appliance, which previously burns a blue flame, currently burns an orange flame, there may be a buildup of carbon monoxide, and the machine should be serviced immediately. You should be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms and see a doctor as soon as you or your family experience some of them. 

If you suspect a gas leak in the home, open all the windows and contact your gas supplier. Besides, if you need to refill your gas heaters, you can ensure safety by hiring a propane delivery service. You can click here for more information on the propane delivery service.

3. Be careful in the kitchen

In many homes, the kitchen offers warm, delicious meals and memories of unforgettable family time. Despite the warmth that the kitchen offers, it is also one of the most dangerous rooms because it is  equipped with so many “accidents waiting to happen!” You can prevent these accidents by implementing the proper safety measures. For example, be careful when cooking with hot liquids such as oil and hot water as they can splatter and cause burns. Cuts in the kitchen are a common and inevitable injury; however, you can avoid them by handling sharp objects with care. You should keep a first aid kit in the kitchen to quickly attend to cuts and prevent them from getting worse.

4. Avoid slips and falls

For the youngest and oldest members of your family, slipping and falling can lead to serious injury. In older people, the CDC reported that slips and fails are accountable for 95% of hip replacements in the country. Therefore, you should implement various safety measures to avoid these accidents from happening too often and causing major injuries. Clean up spills immediately to prevent slips, and teach your younger children to do this as well. Unsecured rugs may also cause someone to trip and fall. Therefore, you should secure your mats with non-skid pads or double-sided carpet tape. 

For both the young and old, the bathroom can be a dangerous place. It will be best if you do not leave your young children unattended in the bath or shower if they are unsteady on their feet as they can easily fall. You can install grab bars in the tub and shower for older adults to offer solid support and prevent them from slipping and falling. Ensure staircase safety as well to avoid slips and falls around the house. Make sure your stairs’ handrail covers the entire length of your staircase to offer support. If you have a carpet on it, be sure that it is secure.

5. Properly store medications and cleaning detergents

Medications and cleaning detergents contain chemical compounds that make them dangerous and cause avoidable injuries within the home. It will be ideal for you to keep them in their original packages with clear labelling for your medications. Do not take medication prescribed for another and properly discard leftover medicines. Ensure that your cleaning detergents are stored away from food and medication. Do not mix detergents as this can cause dangers such as the release of poisonous gases, and read each product’s labels carefully to use them as instructed. Be sure to keep medicines and detergents away from children’s reach by placing them in child-proof lock cabinets. 

Despite the dangers you may encounter in the home, these measures can help you create a safe environment for yourself and your family.