Stay Safe Wherever You Are

Tips to Stay Safe Wherever You Are

Staying safe no matter where you are doesn’t happen on its own. It takes conscious effort and planning to ensure you and your family are protected no matter where you are.

We’ve put together a list of the most common hazards and how to avoid them to help keep you and your family safe.

Staying Safe at Home

Your home is supposed to be your safe place, somewhere you can relax and enjoy your family. But, ensuring it remains the haven, you always dreamed of takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work and planning.

These are the top causes of household injuries

• Poisoning, including accidental drug overdose
• Falls
• Drowning
• Burns

Here are some easy ways for you to help prevent accidents around your home:

Preventing Poisonings

• Keep all cleaning products out of reach of small children and pets. If possible, keep these items in a locked cabinet
• Never put cleaning solutions or other chemicals in unlabeled containers. Always keep them in their original packaging or a clearly labeled container
• Keep all medicines out of children’s reach
• Ensure an adult is present whenever a child, elderly or disabled person takes their medication to ensure proper dosing
• Check the plants in your garden and make sure none of them are poisonous

Preventing Falls

Falls are the second leading cause of preventable fatal accidents and remain the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the U.S.

• Use barrier gates on stairs to prevent small children from falling
• If you have toddlers at home, avoid using bunk beds
• Rearrange furniture to ensure you have proper walkways around your home
• Remove clutter from hallways and entryways
• Invest in non-slip mats and rugs to prevent accidental slips
• Install grip rails and non-slip mats in the bathroom
• Tuck electrical cords away from any walkway in your home
• Make sure walkways in and around your home have proper lighting

Preventing Drownings

Accidental drownings are a leading cause of death in children ages 1-4.

• Stay with your children when they are in or near water, including bathtubs and pools
• Install a fence around your pool and keep it locked
• Remove all toys from the pool area to prevent children from trying to reach them and accidentally falling into the water

Preventing Burns

• Keep hot items such as pots and pans in the kitchen, hair curlers, and irons well back from the edge of the stovetop, bathroom counter, tables, and ironing boards
• Turn pan handles away from the edge of the stove
• If you have small children around the home, it’s better to use placemats instead of tablecloths
• If possible, try to have short or curly electrical cords that won’t dangle from the side of the furniture
• Install a hot water tempering valve to prevent accidental burns in the bathroom and kitchen
• Keep children away from open fires and grills

Safety Tips

• Always have an adult supervising children’s play
• Ensure your kids only use age-appropriate playground equipment or practice a sport that is suitable for their age and physical condition
• Teach your children the proper use of all protective gear
• Make sure their shoelaces are tied and their footwear fits properly
• Survey the playground for potential hazards, including broken glass, sharp-edged objects, rusty or broken playground equipment, tree stumps, or protruding rocks
• Teach your children to play nice and never to push, shove, or hit their playmates