To avoid accidents, you can take some simple steps to make your home a safer place to live. Here are some suggestions for making your home an accident-free zone:
- Clear up spills straight away to prevent slipping and let people in the house know if there is a wet floor.
- At bath time watch young children at all times. A child can drown in an inch of water. If you’re running a bath, turn the cold water on first. This can prevent scalding if a child jumps in early.
- Keep stairs clear to avoid tripping on obstacles. Repair loose carpet or stays (this applies throughout the home).
- Use a proper step ladder to change a light bulb or make a small repair. Using a chair or stool might be convenient but they can be unstable.
- Make sure you have smoke alarms fitted (at least one on each floor) and that they work! Test them every fortnight. Never remove the batteries to use in something else and make sure everyone knows how to exit the house in the event of a fire.
- When cooking use the back rings or hobs on the cooker first and point the handles backwards. This can prevent accidents with small children, they won't be able to reach pot handles and scald themselves.
- Chemical, medical and cleaning products need to be put away in high-level cupboards or in cupboards secured with child safety locks.
- Have gas, oil and solid fuel heaters serviced yearly. This will reduce the risk of fires and of carbon monoxide poisoning. Fit a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Heaters, fires and candles should never be placed near to furniture, curtains or clothes.
- Cracked plugs and worn cables must be replaced as they can cause shocks and electrical fires. Don’t overload your sockets. If there are children present, cover low sockets with socket guards. Don't keep electrical appliances in the bathroom and always dry your hands before handling them.
- Windows in high-rise buildings can be dangerous. Make sure furniture is a safe distance away and use restrictor catches on any upstairs windows if children are around.