Most times, you hear the word accident, the home is not the first place your mind associates with it. Everybody considers their home a comfort zone, somewhere to be at ease, but it might interest you to know that just about half of all accidental injuries & deaths happen in the home.
To prevent accidents at home, you need to be aware of the potential triggers and measures to take. Below you will find 10 ways to make your home safe and significantly reduce the risk of an accident:
- Clean up spills and litter immediately: Carelessly placed objects or spilled liquid could cause someone to trip or fall over. A clean, organized area would help prevent accidents.
- Avoid getting electrical appliances wet: Properly store your appliances and do not get them in close contact with liquids. Also, be sure to disconnect from the power source when not in use to prevent a fire outbreak due to a high current surge.
- Handle sharp equipment carefully: Ensure their sharp edges are pointing down and away from your body when you hold them. After use, sharp objects such as scissors, knives, and needles must not be left carelessly but kept in their designated areas, away from the reach of a child.
- Apply caution when dealing with hot objects: Do not attempt to touch the heated surfaces of things like hot iron, heaters, oven, kettles, etc. Napkins should be used when carrying hot pots or pans to prevent burns. In addition, turn all handles towards the back of the stove and keep flammable materials clear of the burner.
- Install fire alarm systems: You may want to consider installing this if you haven’t yet. It is very effective at detecting potential fires, giving you time to act and prevent them. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby as well.
- Keep drugs and harmful products out of reach: If you have children around, this should exceptionally be a priority. Get storage shelves with locks to keep medicines and toxic substances away from reach. Also, properly label each product to prevent confusion.
- Set up lights in dark or dimly lit areas: Darkness or poor vision could contribute to several accidents in the home. Ensure that everywhere is well lit to allow easy movements around the house.
- Do not leave children unattended in the kitchen: The kitchen is very prone to accidents and is not safe for a child to play in, especially while you’re cooking. Having little ones in the house requires extra caution and deliberately keeping an eye out.
- Anti-slip bathroom tiles: The bathroom is one place that gets wet very often, and slippery tiles could cause falls in people of all ages. It is advisable to install anti-slip tiles or a non-slip bathroom mat to prevent bathroom accidents.
- Don’t run up or downstairs: Injuries on stairs are common but preventable. When climbing up or down, try to take your time, one step after the other, to prevent tripping. Consider opting for a stairlift or an elevator if you can afford to.