Our homes are supposed to be our safe havens, the shelter we retreat into to protect ourselves from the outside world. They say home is where your heart is, but what if your home isn’t the safest place for you?
Every new home comes with a plethora of safety hazards, situations that can result in grave injuries if we don’t take the necessary measures. Intense planning and scrutinizing every corner of your house is crucial during the building stage. Remember, planning saves lives and money!
Despite our best attempts at planning and inspecting, and removing any safety hazards, human effort is ultimately fallible. We may overlook something small, not consider something dangerous till it becomes so, and thus be unable to stop ourselves from suffering bodily injury.
Everyone knows exactly how expensive a trip to the emergency room is! So before we go into the nitty-gritty, we’ve got to be clear about the most essential measure to be taken. As they say, it is important to be prepared—and to be prepared, you would need the cover of personal liability insurance by your side. It ensures that you are compensated whenever you suffer bodily injury in your home, car, etc. Therefore, even if you miss out on all the things we talk about in the article, you would always have a cover if nothing goes in your favor.
Here are a few ways to make sure you don’t injure yourself at home:
1) Avoid Falls:
Falls are a serious problem faced by many homeowners, especially those at the extremes of the age spectrum: the elderly and children. Falls are the commonest cause of broken bones, and while broken bones aren’t a big deal for a healthy twenty-something, fractures can cause serious damage and complications in older people. Falls are the leading cause of hip fractures, and serious tumbles can even lead to head injuries like subdural hematomas.
How can you avoid falls? Well, it’s time to turn to the biggest culprit- the staircase. For children, safety gates at the bottom and the top of the stairs can be a massively helpful addition. For adults, good lighting, sturdy handrails, less slippery floors, and reducing the steepness of each step can significantly contribute to reducing falls. The elderly should decidedly avoid stairwells, especially if they require aid during waking. Stairlifts are amazing devices for the elderly that should be invested in.
Another place that can contribute to serious falls- is in the bathroom. Slippery floors can be an absolute menace and need to be eliminated as soon as possible. Carpeting bathroom floors, or adding rubber mats is a great method to make floors less slippery. Worst case scenario, invest in a good mop and clean and dry your bathroom floor regularly. The elderly can use handrails near the toilet seat and bathtub to use as support while getting up so that they don’t fall and have something to hold onto.
2) Avoid Carbon Monoxide:
This might be a health hazard many people are unaware of but are one of the most dangerous safety hazards nonetheless. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a fatal condition,that has led to many deaths over the past few years and can be easily avoided by undertaking a few, simple safety measures.
Install functional carbon monoxide detectors and get them checked up every year. Add carbon monoxide detection to your security system, such that it can warn you when the levels get too high. Checking your heating devices like stoves and geysers, and getting them repaired regularly is important to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Moreover, paint fumes often lead to this poison affecting you, so always pain with windows open, and with someone else present in the house.
3) Avoid Poisoning:
Children are curious, and will always put anything and everything in their mouths. This can prove to be problematic, as there are hundreds of potential poisons scattered around our house that we are unaware of. Nearly 5000 deaths in the US occur due to poisoning.
A great way to avoid poisoning is to keep all hazardous materials in high places, like shelves and cupboards, far, far away from the reach of tiny toddlers and little children. It’s important to label all jars containing unknown substances and keep the national poisoning helpline number always in hand.
4) Avoid Fires:
Fires are possibly the leading causes of deaths all over the world, in their own homes. There are so many ways a fire can break out, which is why we need to be excessively vigilant and diligently careful when it comes to fire safety.
Basic things like smoke detectors and fire alarms that contact the fire department are an absolute must. Smoke detectors should have their batteries checked regularly. Pans and other utensils should never be left on the stove, and stoves should be immediately turned off after use.
Cigarette buts should be completely extinguished, and the electrical wiring should be checked up at least twice a year. Having a failsafe fire escape and safety plan is also important.
If you follow these basic measures, you can not only stop injury but also prevent unnecessary and sorrowful death.
