It’s important to keep our homes safe from fire hazards, electrical dangers, and other potential threats. But what about the everyday dangers we face when we are away from home?

Our homes are one of the most accident-prone locations. There are many hazards in our home that can cause unintended injury and death.

However, most accidents and injuries at home are preventable and can be easily avoided. 

Top 6 Tips To Make Your Home A Safe Place

Here are our suggested tips for creating a safe home environment and protecting your family from the six causes of home injury as per the National Safety Council:

1. Poisonings

You may not think about it, but there are many ways that household products could poison you. 

We have all heard stories about people who were poisoned by their own medicine cabinet or pets. It is important to know how to protect yourself against such occurrences. 

There are many things that we do daily that can harm us. From cleaning supplies to food, here are some tips to keep you safe.

Don’t Leave Food Out: Clean your hands before handling food such as cooking and eating. Wash all fresh produce and meat thoroughly before cooking and consumption. Keep meat, seafood, and diary separately from the other food items, and use separate cutting board for them. Cook all foods until it’s completely done and store properly in the fridge after eating. If you leave food out, it will attract pests and rodents. They’ll eat the food and then carry germs back into your home. This can lead to sicknesses like salmonella poisoning.   

Be Careful When Using Cleaners: There are many kinds of cleaners available today. It’s important to use them safely so as not to cause harm to yourself or others. Here are some tips to keep in mind when using cleaning supplies.

• Check For Dangerous Chemicals Before Using Household Products: Always read labels before purchasing any product. If you see anything suspicious, such as “poison” or “danger,” then do not use it. Also, check the expiration date on the label.

• Avoid Pesticides And Herbicides In The Garden: Many people assume that pesticides and herbicides are harmless because they are labeled with the word “safe.” However, certain chemicals can cause serious harm to humans and animals. These harmful chemicals can enter our bodies through skin, eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, and even food.

• Watch Out For Toxic Ingredients In Personal Care Products: If you use personal care products, make sure to read labels carefully, especially for ingredients that contain words such as “fragrance,” “parfum,” “perfume,” “alcohol,” “acetone,” “propylene glycol,” “glycerin,” “cocamide DEA,” “methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCI),” “phenoxyethanol,” “benzyl alcohol,” “formaldehyde,” “ammonia,” “ethylene oxide,” “nonylphenol ethoxylate,” “phthalates,” “dibutyl phthalate,” ‘and “butyl paraben.”

* Call 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control Center) if someone is poisoned in your home for immediate connection to emergency help in your area. 

2. Falls

Falling is not only dangerous but also costly. It’s important to take precautions to avoid falling accidents.

Falls are often caused by poor balance or muscle weakness. These problems can be prevented through regular exercise. Falls are among the leading causes of injury among older adults and emergency room visits among children. In fact, falls are the most common cause of fatal injuries in people over 65 years old.

To prevent falls, here are some tips on how to keep yourself safe at home.

• Install Handrails: Installing handrails on stairs and other steps is an easy way to help prevent falls. If you live in an apartment building, ask your landlord to install them. You can do it yourself by using 2x4s as support.
• Put up a Safety Sign: A safety sign is a simple way to remind people to take care when walking near stairs. It should be posted where people will see it regularly, such as on the wall next to the stairwell. Signs should also be posted on the floor below the stairs so people can read them while standing on the stairs.
• Check the Stairs Every Time You Go Out: If you notice any loose items on the stairs, make sure to pick them up before going out. This includes anything from small toys to books to shoes. Also, check the area under the stairs for tripping hazards. Make sure there aren’t any objects that could trip you.
• Don’t Leave Pets or Children Alone: If you live alone, make sure you have a plan in case of emergencies. Make sure you have a list of people you can call if you need help. Also, ensure there’s enough food and water for your pets and children.

3. Choking And Suffocation

Choking is one of the primary causes of hospitalization and death among young children under five years old. It’s also one of the most preventable deaths. 

Here’s how to keep kids safe from choking hazards at home: 

• Keep An Eye Out For Common Household Hazards: There are many things at home that can cause choking such as toys with small parts, like beads that can easily become lodged in a child’s throat, certain foods that can block airways and lead to asphyxiation, certain type of clothing that can restrict breathing and lead to suffocation.
• Educate Children About Choking Hazards: Supervise babies and young children when they are eating and playing to prevent choking hazards from common culprits such as grapes and small toy parts. Prevent choking by teaching kids about the dangers of choking. Kids need to learn about choking hazards before they start eating solid foods. We should teach them about common choking hazards such as toys, coins, buttons, and small pieces of food. Teach your child to avoid these items by putting them away when not in use. Also, teach kids safe swallowing habits.
• Have an Emergency Plan: If you’re going to teach your kids about choking hazards, make sure you have an emergency plan in place. Practice with your kids so they know what to do in case of an emergency. This includes practicing how to use the Heimlich maneuver (a technique used to dislodge food or objects stuck in the throat) and how to perform CPR.

In addition to knowing what to do when you find an object in your child’s mouth, call 911 immediately, especially if you’re alone and choking.

4. Drowning

Drowning is an important issue that affects millions of people each year. Children between the ages 1-4 years drown in their own bathtubs or toilets more often than they do in swimming pools. 

Water can be dangerous for children and adults alike. Here’s what you can do to stay safe from the risk of drowning in your home and outside: 

• Install a Waterproof Fence: Install a four-sided fence in your swimming pool with an automatic ‘child-proof’ gate. A fence with a waterproof coating will protect against water damage and keep kids out of dangerous areas.
• Teach Children About Safe Swimming: It’s important to teach children about safe swimming practices. Make sure they understand how to swim with a life jacket, how to stay afloat without using hands, and how to avoid dangerous situations such as diving under water.
• Never leave children unattended around water: Always stay within an arm’s length of children in and around water. Empty large buckets or wading pools and keep them upside down after use.

5. Fires And Burns

Taking into account the possibility of fires and burns is important for everyone living in a house or apartment because it could be dangerous if not taken care of properly. 

Safety from fires and burns includes many aspects, such as: 

• Conduct Regular Fire Drills: Have an escape plan and conduct regular fire drills. This includes knowing where the nearest exit is, having a means of getting out of the building (e.g., phone, keys) and practicing using those methods. If you live in an apartment or house, make sure you know where the exits are located so you can find them quickly in case of an emergency. You should also practice escaping through each exit at least once per year. Have one window in each room for exit in case of a fire if you have installed window guards in your house.  
• Stay Attentive While Cooking And Using Electrical Appliances: When cooking, stay next to your stove to monitor the proceedings. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of house fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Turn off the stove and other appliances before leaving the room. Make sure to turn off the stove and other electrical devices before leaving the room. This will prevent fires from starting while you are away. Also, never leave a lit match unattended. Don’t smoke near flammable materials.
• Install Smoke Detectors: Another easy way to prevent fires is to make sure there aren’t any flammable materials lying around. This includes cleaning up after cooking, using candles, and leaving lighters unattended. Install smoke detectors if you haven’t already. 
• Don’t Leave Children And Pets Alone Near Flammable Objects: If you have children, make sure they understand how dangerous fireplaces can be. They need to stay away from them because they can easily start fires. Never leave candles unattended, even when they appear to be out. And never leave children and pets alone with a lit candle.
• Teach Children About Fire Safety: You should also teach your children about other dangers in the house. Make sure they know not to play with matches, lighters, or anything else that can cause an explosion. Also, teach them to call 911 immediately if there is any sign of smoke or fire.
• Test Battery On All Appliances: It’s easy to forget about appliances when you’re busy doing other things, but they’re still very dangerous. If you’ve got kids, make sure they know how to test the battery on every appliance in the house. This includes TVs, lamps, microwaves, ovens, stoves, and more.

If you see a fire, call 911 immediately. Do not put out the flames yourself. You could become seriously injured or even killed.

6. Mechanical Suffocation

Mechanical suffocation is a form of asphyxiation caused by an object blocking the airway. It is one of the leading causes of unintentional death among children under five years old.

Mechanical suffocation occurs when someone blocks the airway in order to stop breathing. This can happen accidentally, for example, when a child puts something over his/her head while sleeping. Or it can occur intentionally, for example, when someone tries to kill by placing a pillow over the face.

Signs of mechanical suffocation include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Cyanosis (blue lips)
• A weak cry

There are several ways to prevent mechanical suffocation at home. 

• Make sure that there is adequate space between beds and furniture so that a child cannot wedge himself/herself into a small area. 
• Keep toys out of reach of young children. 
• Teach older children how to use stairs safely.
• Install safety gates on stairways and other areas where children might fall. 
• Ensure that windows and doors are locked.
• Do not leave children unattended in vehicles.
• Remove pillows and blankets from the bedding. 
• Check on children frequently and respond quickly if they seem distressed.

If you suspect that a child or family member has been injured because of mechanical suffocation, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to perform CPR yourself.

Final Thoughts 

You can make your home safe by taking care of the common danger spots and home injuries through our suggested prevention measures. 

It’s also important to have an emergency plan in place so that you can take care of yourself if something happens. You should have a list of people who will contact emergency services if you need help. You should also have a list of places where you can go if you need medical attention.

Keep a first aid kit and supplies in stock such as pain relievers, medicines for common ailments, disinfectants, eye patches, band-aids, gauze, and anti-bacterial wipes. 

We are always a call or button away if you need our medical services to treat a home injury. You can contact Los Gatos Doc, the best primary care doctors in Saratoga, CA , for all health-related consultation and support.

(Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
• Medline Plus
• National Institutes of Health 
• American Medical Association
• American Association of Family Physicians
• Mayo Clinic
• Family Doctor