Be Aware of Home Safety
In today’s fast-paced, rambunctious world, our homes are our private getaways where we can shut out the dangers and bustle of daily life. As the saying goes, our homes are our castles and as such, our families should be entirely comfortable. Home safety should be a top priority.
Being safe inside your home need not be an issue that causes stress. Simple steps can be taken to make sure that no one is injured inside your sanctuary. Often all that is required is simply increased awareness and diligent observation.
If you think about it a little, your home can be a fairly dangerous place. There is always the potential for a slip and fall in the bathroom, the cabinet under the sink probably contains several potentially dangerous and poisonous chemicals, and we all have various kitchen knives or even shop tools that can cause major injuries.
Fall prevention is probably the most crucial issue. Statistics show falls are the most common household accident. Installing grab bars in the tub can help prevent falls as well as assisting seniors or the infirm with getting in and out of the bath.
Staying in the bathroom, a good idea is to also add non-slip stickers or mats to the bottom of the tub. There are also products that are applied like paint but go on clear, so beautiful porcelain or tile work is not obscured. For people with children, a childproof lock on the toilet seat can prevent accidental drowning as well as help keep toys out of your pipes. One final point about the bathroom: hot water can burn like fire, so lower the temperature on your hot water heater to avoid scalding.
Speaking of fire, smoke alarms are indispensable safety measures in the home. They are cheap and easy to install, but for more in depth protection you can install an entire security system that monitors your home for smoke and fire. Lately, many companies are offering free or discounted installation, and the monthly monitoring fees are generally reasonable.
If there are toddlers in the home, under the sink is not the place for household cleaners and chemicals. If possible, place chemicals in an overhead cabinet out of reach of young children. Regardless, putting child safety locks on all kitchen cabinets and drawers will prevent children from getting their hands on poisonous substances or sharp knives. Again serving a dual purpose, these child locks can also keep your pots and pans from being scattered about by playful toddlers.
