If you watch or read the news, the events around the world today may have you particularly concerned about your family’s safety. However, the biggest threats to you and your family’s safety, such as drowning, vehicle accidents, falls, and accidental poisonings, are found closest to home. Fortunately, there are many easy things you can do to help protect your family from danger.
Preventing Falls
Children and seniors are the most likely to be injured in falls, and more than half of all falls occur in the home. Help prevent falls in your home by removing all tripping hazards, such as electrical cords, throw rugs, and children’s toys, from common walkways. Keep clutter off of your stairways. Install handrails on both sides of each of your stairways. Put light switches at the top and bottom of your stairs as well.
In the bathroom, install grab bars in the shower and near the toilet. Place a non-slip bathmat in the tub to prevent falls in the shower.
Never leave a baby unsupervised on a changing table or bed. Utilize the safety straps on strollers and high chairs to help keep your young children safe. Use gates to block access to the stairs and balconies.
Prevent Drowning
Children under the age of four years old are the most susceptible to drowning, but children of any age can become victims of drowning. Never leave your child unsupervised at the beach or at the pool. If you have a pool, put a fence around it with a self-closing door. Lock the door to the pool when your family isn’t using it. Keep all tripping hazards, including pool toys, away from the water’s edge when you’re not using them. For more protection, install a pool cover that prevents access to the water when the pool isn’t in use.
Prevent Burglary
Burglary and break-ins are a major concern of many homeowners. You can help keep your family safe from break-ins by getting a home alarm system, like those from Tele-Plus. A basic alarm system will detect entry at your doors and easy-to-access windows. Some security systems allow you to monitor your home from a distance through surveillance cameras and your phone. Some alarm systems will also provide you a notification if your smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector goes off when you’re not home.
Window Safety: Window screens are meant to keep insects out of your home. They won’t prevent your children from getting out. If you have window guards that only allow you to raise the window a few inches, ensure that they can be released easily in the case of a fire. It’s also important to check your windows periodically to ensure that they are not swollen, painted, or nailed shut.
Prevent Accidental Poisoning
To protect your family from accidental poisoning, tighten all child-proof medication caps, and store your medication in a place that isn’t easily accessible to your children. Store household cleaning products in cabinets containing safety latches. Store all pesticides in your garage in a cabinet with a safety latch. Keep the number for poison control on your refrigerator for easy access.
With all of the tragic events that take place in the world today, it’s easy to worry about your family’s safety. Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to help keep your family safe in your home.
