7 Safety Hazards to Prevent in the Home

Safety at home should be a priority for you and your family. In 2023, 78% of preventable injuries causing death happened at home. That’s not to alarm you, but to bring awareness there are hazards you may not have thought of in your dwelling. Our homes are our happy places, but they do pose some risks. Learn what to avoid and reduce these safety hazard by following these handy tips:

Protect Yourself from Sharp Objects

Once you think about it, sharp edges are everywhere inside and outside the home. Yes, the knives and peelers are in the kitchen, but how about the scissors in your home office? Or the razors and nail clippers in the bathroom? Even open food cans could cut like a knife! Outside, find more hazards like lawn mowers, lawn tools, saws, and power tools stored in the garage or shed.

To avoid cuts, make sure all sharp objects are put up and away after each use. Magnetic knife hangers may look cool, but they do pose a safety risk. Those with young ones at home should level up with child safety locks on drawers and cabinet doors where needed. And, when you’re loading the dishwasher, point knives and forks down in the utensil basket for added safety.

Prevent Trips and Falls

One in 5 older adults who fall suffers a broken bone or head injury. Those falls can result from wet floors, slick stairs, or scattered toys on the floor. As we age, our balance and strength change, making even normally find wood flooring a potential slipping hazard.

Here’s what we suggest to reduce these common household hazards that cause falls.

• Stabilize staircases with handrails, which are likely required by local codes
• Secure loose flooring; make sure any mats or rugs are flat and have a non-slip underlayer
• Mount a safety gate if you have small children and a flight of stairs
• Clear indoor and outdoor steps of toys and debris, like ice and snow
• Cover high-risk slippery surfaces, like bathroom floors with nonslip rugs and the bathtub with nonslip stickers
• Install safety rails in showers or bathtubs to support older family members.

Safely Store Chemicals

There were more than two million poisoning incidents reported to poison control centers across the United States in 2021. The culprit? The top two were cosmetics/personal care products and cleaning and home maintenance supplies. But other safety hazards were paint, detergents, and medications. The vast majority of exposures were unintentional, with about 90% occurring in children six and younger.

With a little know-how, you can decrease the chance of accidental poisonings by keeping these household items out of reach. If needed, add a child safety lock to a high cabinet. Over-the-counter and prescription medication shouldn’t be left on the counter and thrown away if unused.

For cleaning and paint products, never put them in a container other than the labeled container. It helps children from mistaking it for something else and has poison treatment information on the label. Keep any detergent pods in the container and out of reach. The good news is many of these now have child safety lids and zippers.

Stop Fires and Burns

The National Fire Protection Association counted more than 350,000 home fires, from mild smoke damage to total home loss, and 2,480 lives lost in 2021. To prevent devastation like this, some simple steps reduce fire risk.

• Don’t leave lit candles or a steam iron unattended or near curtains or blankets.
• Install fire alarms throughout your home and change the batteries each year (at least). The New Year is an excellent time to check the alarms are still functioning.
• Keep at least one fire extinguisher in your home. Position it near the kitchen, as this is the most likely source of a home fire. Make sure you and your family members know how to operate it.
• Inspect electrical appliance cords for any fraying and unplug those that aren’t in use.
• Make sure your dryer vents are cleaned regularly to avoid lint build-up.

Additionally, take precautions against burns, which mostly happen in the kitchen when you’re using the dishwasher or stove. Make sure your dishwasher door is securely latched to avoid access to any steam. Use the back burners of your stove to prevent any accidental touches of a hot pot or pan. Turn off all stovetop burners immediately after use. With young kids at home, keep any tempting cookies or toys off the stovetop even when it’s not in use.

Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide, the silent killer, can affect your family even at low levels. The odorless, colorless gas leads to headaches and dizziness. Installing a carbon monoxide detector to alert everyone in the home if the air is becoming dangerous could save your life. The alert tells you to get out before it’s too late.

To prevent CO leaks, hire a professional to inspect your water heater, HVAC system, and other gas-using appliances annually. If you’re buying an older home, have a professional inspect these same areas before you close on the sale. For added peace of mind, purchase a detector that plugs into an electrical outlet at an affordable price. A combo smoke and carbon monoxide detector covers both dangers.

No Choking!

Did you know that choking is the fourth largest cause of accidental deaths in the United States, with more than 5,000 deaths in 2022? In the home, prevention starts with inspecting toys for loose parts and clearing the floor of small items, like Legos or marbles.

In the kitchen, keep choking hazard foods, like hard nuts or candies, out of reach. Cut hard and round foods that could block little ones’ airways, like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and hot dogs. Don’t leave eating kids unattended. Have a baby monitor on hand to check in on toddlers playing in the next room.

 Stop the Strangling

Cords on blinds and curtains are a persistent strangling hazard for young ones. Never place a crib or toddler bed near a window with those dangling cords. If you use an extension cord, put it away and out of reach after it’s no longer needed. Also, to be safe, either trim the window cords to a length only adults can reach or install blind cord wraps.

Keeping Your Home Safe