Making Your Home Safe

Posted on 05/20/2024 by Whittier Hospital Medical Center

Many injuries are caused by preventable accidents around the home. Accident-proofing your home can prevent trips to the emergency room, and can keep you and your family safe. Here are some tips to increase the safety of your home.

Reduce Tripping Hazards

Falls account for a large number of injuries at home. Tripping hazards can endanger anyone, but seniors and young children are particularly at risk. You can help eliminate tripping hazards around your home with some easy steps:

Make sure all stairs around your home are well lit and have sturdy hand rails installed.
Clean up clutter, like toys, from the floor.
Secure rugs, loose wires, and other tripping hazards.
Clean up spills, and lay rugs in the bathroom and kitchen to protect against wet, slippery floors.
Check for roots, uneven or broken pavers, puddles or muddy patches, and other slipping hazards outside.

Prevent Burns

Burns are another leading injury at home. Children and older people can be more affected due to their fragile skin. Prevent burn injuries by:

Practicing safe kitchen habits, such as tuning pot handles away from the edges of the stove, placing hot items away from the edge of the counter, and never placing hot dishes on a table cloth that children could pull
Turning down the temperature on your water heater to prevent scalding bath water
Securing and unplugging heated hair-styling tools to prevent children from burning themselves
Never leaving candles unattended, near flammable materials, or where children or pets can reach them
Supervising children in the kitchen or near fireplaces

Protect from Electrical Shock

Electrical shock poses a risk to all individuals. Here are tips to prevent dangerous electrical injuries:

Never mix electricity and water. Always dry your hands and never touch electrical devices in wet conditions.
Call a professional to make any needed electrical repairs or upgrades.
Know where the breakers are in your home.
Always unplug electrical devices when not in use.
Cover outlets with child-proof covers to prevent little fingers from being stuck in outlets.

Prevent Poisoning

Poisoning can be a danger for young children, teens, and older people. Young children may be exposed to toxic chemicals around the home, and teens and older people are at a higher risk for accidental overdose. Protect your family with these habits:

Always store hazardous or toxic chemicals out of reach of children and pets. Ensure they are stored in sealed containers.
Lock up medications, or keep them where they are difficult to access. Child-proof containers can protect young children. * Regularly check your medications to ensure they are being taken as prescribed. Dispose of leftover medications that are no longer needed.
Keep all medications in their original labeled containers.
Use a pill-tracker or other reminder to ensure medications are taken on schedule and that doses aren't taken too closely together. Many injuries are caused by preventable accidents around the home.

This article contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis of a physician. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.