Health & Safety at Home

Ensure health and safety at home by following some guidelines.

Accidents can happen anywhere, even at our homes when we least expect them. In a study by the Injury Prevention Research Center of the University of North Carolina, almost 18,000 people died on an average every year between 1992 and 1999 due to unintentional injury at home. It isn't just injuries, but you can also suffer from diseases due to an unclean and unhygienic home.

Health at Home

General cleanliness ensures health at home. Wash the curtains and vacuum carpets and your sofa regularly. Try to get as much sunlight and ventilation in the house as possible. This will prevent germs from breeding inside. Cover food to prevent your family from falling sick. Ensure that all waste that could be a feast for insects and microbes is disposed in a covered wastebasket. Don’t let food bits stick to the sink. Keep the sink clean and dry.

Safety in Bedroom and Bathroom

Never leave things strewn around in the bedroom. This is especially true with children in the house. Don't leave medicines on your bed or in the nightstand. Leave hair dryers and other electrical gadgets in the bathroom unplugged when not in use. Put scissors and razors away when they're not being used. Keep the bathroom floor as dry as possible.

Safety in Kitchen

Keep sharp objects like knives, forks, can openers or glass utensils in drawers when they're not being used. Keep these items out of reach of young children. Never leave anything on the stove unattended. Don't keep plastic objects near an operating oven. If there are kids in the house, install stove locks and latches on the drawers. Keep stools away from the oven so children aren't able to reach the stove or the stove knobs.

Fire Safety

Install fire and carbon monoxide alarms in the house. Check them regularly to make sure they're in working condition. Place fire extinguishers in the house as well. Every family member should know the location and how to use the extinguishers. Never overload outlets and extension boards as short circuits might start a fire. Store flammable objects safely, out of reach of children.

Electrical Safety

Never leave any appliance on and unattended. When not in use, store them away in their designated place. Never use a faulty electrical appliance. Get such appliances fixed. If that's impossible, inform every family member of the faulty equipment. If there's some problem with the electrical circuit in your house, call an electrician immediately.

General Safety Tips

Install telephones close to beds and places where they can be reached easily. Make a list of emergency phone numbers and place them near every phone. Have a first aid kit and keep in place that is easily accessible to all family members. Avoid cluttering of rooms especially the hallways and areas around a staircase. Make sure that all areas in and around the house have adequate lighting.

References

• University of North Carolina: Home Safety Statistics
• Kidshealth.org: Safe Home Checklist

Resources

• Safety at Home: Seasonal Safety