Home Safety

Home sweet home" isn't always "home safe home." In fact, the home is by the far the place you're most likely to have an accident. Here are the top five dangers, and some quick tips on what you can do to prevent them.

1. Falls: Keep the house well lit, especially hallways and stairways. Fix loose floor boards or tiles, and warps or bumps. Tack down area and scatter rugs, and use a non-skid backing. In the bathroom use a non-skid mat. Clean up spills right away. Use nightlights, and keep a flashlight handy for emergencies. Install motion sensor lights for particularly dark areas like the stairs to the basement or attic. Wear shoes or slippers with good footing. When working with a ladder, pick a solid resting place for the feet, at a safe angle from the house (a quarter of the ladder length).

2. Poisoning (medicine and household substances): Keep hazardous substances like cleansers, varnishes, and paint thinners in their original containers, never in containers that could be mistaken for another product. Keep harmful substances out of the reach of children. Keep medicines out the reach of children too. Don't suggest to children that medicine tastes like candy to get them to take it - they might look for the candy when you're not around. Don't store medicine and household products in the same place. Use prescription drugs only as intended, and discard expired drugs. Keep the number of the poison control centre handy.

3. Poisoning (gases and vapours): Use and store fuels and solvents in a well-ventilated area. Cover your mouth and nose when working at length with chemical substances and sprays. Keep your chimney clear and furnace in top shape; poorly maintained furnaces produce higher levels of carbon monoxide. Install a carbon monoxide alarm. Don't seal yourself in too tight during winter; allow some air circulation. If you think you smell gas, open the windows or get out of the house, and call the gas company or fire department.

4. Fires: Install smoke alarms outside sleeping areas and on all levels of your home. Don't leave the stove or oven unattended while cooking. Don't overload your electrical system. Keep your furnace and stove clear of combustible substances or debris. Don't smoke or use a flame around flammable substances, or anywhere where vapour could ignite. Don't smoke in bed. Don't barbecue indoors. Keep a fire extinguisher handy, especially in the kitchen.

5. Suffocation: Store plastic bags and wraps out of reach of children. Secure the doors of old fridges and other such containers where a child could be trapped. Learn first aid for rescue breathing and to dislodge food or other substances they are blocking the air passage.