Safety Checklist Reduces Home Accidents: Safety Steps Will Lesson the Dangers

Closely inspect a home, take inventory of hazardous areas and clear obstacles or repair damage to prevent future bumps and aches and avoid more serious injuries.

Inside Home Safety

Make sure hallways and stairs have adequate lighting. Lights should be located at the bottom and top of the stairs and provide adequate illumination to cover the entire stairway and all landings. Clear away clutter from steps that could result in falls. This includes children and pet toys, and any items that are scheduled for delivery to the next floor when time permits.

If stairs have carpet, make sure it is secure and not bulging. Remove throw rugs from landings that easily can slide out of position. All stairways, even those with just a few steps, should have at least one continues handrail.

Install nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms. Don’t pile laundry in high traffic areas such as hallways or room entrances. Laundry should be placed in baskets, hampers, or taken directly to the laundry room.

Never operate electrical gadgets near water unless they are certified for such use. Never use cell phones or portable phones in a shower or bath. Tubs require a nonslip mat or durable anti-slip strips that adhere to the surface. These kinds of strips also can be applied easily to non-carpeted stairs and even ladder steps or rungs.

Doors should open, close, latch and lock properly. Windows and screens need to be securely mounted in frames and sit in the frames correctly when locked.

Ladder and Water Safety

When working from a ladder, avoid overreaching. Keep hips within the vertical rails of the ladder, especially when using extension ladders. Avoid carrying heavy items or too many items up and down a ladder. When working on high outdoor areas such as gutters or the roof, make sure someone is stationed at the base of the ladder to keep it steady and provide guidance.

Scalding water can cause serious burns. Check the water temperature at the furnace or water heater to prevent extremely hot water from exiting faucets. Lower the temperature to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Open buckets of water and other liquids should never be left unattended. They can be tipped easily and the contents can cause people to slip. Curious young children who wander unattended in a home quickly can fall head first into buckets and they will not be able to get out before help arrives.

These are just some of the important areas that may require immediate attention. Every home should have a safety check list that also incorporates routine maintenance. Attention and prevention can help reduce the amount of home accidents.