Personal Safety in the Home
Personal safety in the home is important, particularly for people who cannot fend well for themselves. This includes toddlers and elderly people. There are a wide variety of personal safety measures one can take in the home, including installing an alarm system, locking cabinet doors, removing small objects and being aware of the surroundings. Most safety measures can be be implemented easily.
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Function
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The function of having personal safety measures in the home is to avoid any dangers, accidents or any other event that could have harmful or fatal results. Having safety measures installed in one's home is also to prevent criminals from entering the home. Depending on whom the safety procedures are for, considerations must be made, as personal safety differs for a baby and for an elderly person.
Emergency Planning
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It is a good idea to have a plan of action in place in case of an emergency. Outline the potential emergencies that could occur and implement solutions. It is important that all members of the family attend the emergency planning meeting, as it is not guaranteed that all family members will be present in an emergency situation. Establish more than one meeting place--outside the home in case of fire or related incident and one outside the neighborhood in case of an evacuation. Ensure everyone is familiar with both places. Also, have a plan for getting reacquainted after an emergency. Becoming separated is not uncommon during an emergency, so have methods of communication at hand, if possible. When creating a personal safety plan for the home, consider adding common-sense practices, so individuals do not forget or oversee basic safety measures. This could include keeping important emergency numbers by the phone, checking the locks on the windows daily and ensuring that the smoke detectors are functioning properly. Also, consider protecting computers and the information stored on them by adding locks and passwords to important folders.
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Fire Safety
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For the most part, fires in the home can be prevented, if all members of the home are prepared and educated. Ensure that all members of the home are aware of the potential fires caused by cooking, such as long sleeves, leaving the kitchen while cooking, failing to be alert and keeping dishtowels and other burnable items close to the stove. Furthermore, teach children and teenagers the dangers of matches and lighters and using space heaters to heat individual rooms. It is also important that no one uses the fireplace unless an adult is present. If smokers are in the house, make it a habit to smoke outside to avoid any potential dangers. Ensure that fire alarms are checked every six months. In case of a fire, ensure that everyone knows where to exit and how to use a fire extinguisher. For clothing that catches on fire, teach the "stop, drop and roll" maneuver.
Neighborhood Watch
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Inquire in the community about neighborhood watch programs in place. These programs offer communal help and support in fighting crime and have programs, practices and meetings to prevent any future crime from entering the community and neighborhood. These preventions can include street signs, general training materials and information sheets for each member of the community. Each neighborhood watch program is different, so contact a member of the community to get informed.
Elderly-Proofing
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For personal safety for the elderly, ensure adequate lighting in the home to avoid any stumbles. Make sure that all of the hallways are uncluttered and cords and rugs are smooth and tugged away. Secure locks and windows, but keep an extra key hidden outside in case of an emergency. Installing handrails or grab bars may offer additional assistance. Furthermore, labeling doors may help the elderly in case of memory loss or conditions that affect memory. If the elderly is suffering from a lack of vision, bright tape can be taped on to the stairs to make it easier for the elderly to identify steps. This might prevent any accidents on the stairs.
Child-Proofing
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To secure safety in a home with children, removing anything harmful is priority one. This includes locking away knifes, kitchen items that may be dangerous for children, removing knobs from the stove, using childproof latches on cabinets and removing small items that may be in reach of the child. Daily procedures may include cooking with the handles of the pots and pans facing inward, locking drawers and cabinets after use, ensuring that the fire extinguisher works properly in case of an emergency and continuously keeping hazardous cleaning materials out of reach for children. Other safety concerns could be the stairs, so installing gates on the top of bottom of the steps, as well as handrails, may ensure safety on the stairs.
Children's Safety Courses
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Children can be taught personal safety from a young age. Personal safety courses, such as Kidpower, teach children the importance of staying safe and being familiar with basic safety practices. This could include not answering the door for strangers and not revealing too much information over the phone. Enrolling children in a personal safety program may ensure that children learn the basic safety needs, in case something should happen to them or someone around them.
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References
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