If there’s one place on earth you should feel the most comfortable and the safest, it’s your home.
According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 156,300 avoidable injury-related deaths occurred in homes and communities in 2020. An additional 46.8 million people experienced non-fatal injuries that required a trip to a medical care provider.
Again, no one should be unsafe or feel unsafe where they live either on their own or with family. And with the proper steps, this ideal can be a reality.
Continue reading to see five common household accidents and how to avoid them.
- Trips, Slips, and Falls
Unfortunately, trips, slips, and falls are common. You can reduce the chances of this occurring in your home by taking inventory of your residence and making some changes if necessary.
Is your home cluttered? If so, get rid of the clutter either by putting things away or getting rid of the excess. If you have cords strewn about the floor or unsafe flooring in areas of your home, correct the problems to prevent accidents. If you or a loved one have any mobility impairments, consider this as well. Using proper mobility devices is a good idea.
If you use a ladder to paint, hang decor, or clean the eavestrough and downspouts, be mindful of the risks associated with falling off a ladder. It happens more than you think. Ladder accidents happen in homes and at work. You might be surprised to learn that ladder accidents are not uncommon on construction sites. When using a ladder, ensure that it’s set up correctly, don’t try to skip rungs, and watch your step when ascending and descending it. Don’t take chances!
- Poisoning
Another source of home accidents is poison — specifically products that can lead to poisoning. If you have children or pets, you need to be especially careful. It might seem obvious to you that certain products, like cleaning agents or nail polish, aren’t for consumption. But it might not be that obvious to kids and animals.
So, it’s best to store specific products in designated areas that are off-bounds to children and pets. It’s also essential that you properly store your medication in a safe and secure space. A little caution will go a long way.
- Falling Objects
You also need to be careful when it comes to falling objects. If something falls off a shelf and hits someone on the head, the outcome of that scenario can be tragic. You’ll need to assess your home room-by-room to look for possible risks of falling objects. People of any age can become injured in this way, so don’t assume that it only applies to kids. But you’ll want to be especially mindful when it comes to children who don’t always make the best decisions or consider the consequences of their actions. Be careful about placing heavy or potentially dangerous objects on shelves if children can easily access them and possibly hurt themselves.
- Cuts
Also, be on the lookout for sharp objects that might potentially lead to cutting risks. If you have kids, keep the sharp knives out of their reach. Instead of allowing them to use glasses to drink from, give them plastic cups.
- Choking
This is a particularly unnerving one since little kids will often put anything they can find in their mouths. So, you’ll need to be vigilant. Ensure that you keep your younger kids away from objects that they might want to pick up and place in their mouths.
You’ll need to assess every room your little ones access to see if the rooms are safe enough. It makes sense to learn what to do if someone in your family ever faces a choking situation.
These five risks can adversely impact one or more household members if caution isn’t taken. You can minimize risks by following the advice above. It’s certainly possible to make your home an inviting, comfortable, and safe place to be.
