Taking care of your home is important, of course, but what’s more precious are the loved ones that live there; making our house a home.
Most of us have a common priority, providing a safe home where our family can thrive. Unfortunately, no matter how diligent we are there are always hazards lurking around the corner and even a few smaller ones that you wouldn’t expect.
Today we are going to go over some of the common dangers found in homes and give you some tips on how to avoid any issues with them. Some common home hazards include:
1. Falls
This could entail slipping getting out of the shower or falling down the stairs.
Falls in the home are the leading cause of home injuries.
To minimize risks in your home, you’ll want to stabilize staircases: make sure handrails are steady, fixed to the floor, under sufficient lighting, and have baby gates if there are small children in the home.
Doing things like installing safety rails on showers or bathtubs and placing mats outside of the shower can also prevent injury. Clear stairwells and steps of all debris, toys, etc. and make sure kids have adequate space to store toys.
2. Fire Hazards
Reduce the risk of accidental fires by installing fire alarms, never leaving candles or irons unattended and unplugging appliances when finished using. Avoid overloading outlets and regularly check for frayed wires.
You should also have at least one fire extinguisher in your home.
3. Choking Hazards
Choking is the U.S.’ fourth leading cause of accidental deaths, and the biggest household hazard for choking comes from small toys. To prevent disaster, regularly inspect your children’s toys for loose parts and use a baby monitor to listen for signs of choking (even if your little one isn’t a baby anymore).
4. Poisoning
Cleaning and home maintenance supplies present a huge risk. Proper storage and handling of these chemicals is so important in the home, especially ones with small children.
Medications should be properly stored, and unused or expired pills should be disposed of. Paint and household chemicals should be kept out of reach and never left unattended while in use.
Detergents, especially pods, should be locked away from kids and pets as they pose a huge threat to our little ones.
5. Strangling
Cords from blinds or curtains present a common hazard for kids. Never place a crib or bed under a window with a hanging cord. Additionally, trim or tie up hanging cords and secure electrical cords in a way that they can’t be pulled out.
6. Drowning
In the last decade drowning deaths in bathtubs have increased by 70%. Thankfully there are some easy steps you can take to prevent these tragedies.
Put buckets away, don’t leave bathing children unattended, and put a gate entrance to your pool or always keep doors leading to pools locked.
Did you find yourself worried while reading this? How many of these hazards have you noticed in your own home? If you found yourself shaking your head in disbelief, don’t worry!
Each of these risks has a simple prevention solution and only requires a little more attention.
If you’re unsure about some hazards in your home, give us a call today! Let us put your mind at ease with a thorough home inspection.