Home Safety Tips

child playing in cabinets

Top Home Safety Tips for National Safe at Home Week

Avoiding Unintentional Home Injuries

National Safe at Home Week, celebrated in August is a great time to prevent potential accidents at home. In order to help keep your home the safe haven it should be, Altus brings you these common-sense home safety tips. According to the latest statistics from the Home Safety Council, every year some 18,000 people in the United States lose their lives due to injuries sustained at home. In addition, there are some 21 million yearly doctor and emergency center visits to treat home accident victims.

Sadly, most of these accidents that result in death or severe injury are preventable. Both the medical and administrative staff of Altus Emergency Centers have seen firsthand how devastating these incidents can be for families.

Help us share these home safety tips that truly are important precautions that can be very easily implemented to safeguard your family.

man playing with his children on the floor

A Recipe for Safety

little girl and her grandparents

National Safe at Home Week:

Kitchen Safety Tips

  • Do not leave children unattended in the kitchen even if it’s for a few minutes especially if you are cooking.
  • Keep flammable objects away from open flame appliances as gas stoves and ovens, as well as other heat sources like toasters, electric cooktops, portable heaters, etc.
  • Use cleaning solutions with extreme care, make sure to wipe surfaces well to avoid accidental poisoning, and when cleaning ovens or stovetops make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the room.
  • Properly store harmful products such as cleaners and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
  • Never leave sharp kitchen utensils like knives, and scissors unattended, and make sure to put them back where they belong once you are done using them.
  • Leave plenty of space between appliances to allow proper ventilation and minimize the risk of them overheating.
  • Electrical cords should be kept away from heat sources.

Rub a Dub, Dub Safety

happy child in a bathtub

National Safe at Home Week:

Bathroom Safety Tips

  • Keep the bathroom as clean as possible, mold can cause severe respiratory distress.
  • Hair dryers, curlers, and irons as well as electric razors should be kept and or used at a safe distance from water.
  • Use non-slip bathroom rugs and mats to avoid slipping.
  • Keep shampoos, soaps, creams, and perfumes out of reach of children.

The Banana Peel Trick is Not a Laughing Matter

man stepping on a toy truck

National Safe at Home Week:

Staircase and Floor Safety Tips

Falls are the leading cause of home injury deaths claiming an average of 6,000 lives every year. Young children and adults over the age of 65 are especially vulnerable to falls in the home.

  • Keep floors clean, free of obstacles and dry, especially on high traffic areas and stairs.
  • Install stable and sturdy railing on all staircases in your home, including those on your deck and front porch.
  • Distance between spindles on your staircase should be narrow enough to prevent children and pets from accidentally falling through, the rule of thumb on this is 4 inches or less between spindles.
  • Every room in the house should be properly lit to ensure complete visibility.

Keep Your Garage Clean and Safe

family moving boxes in a garage

National Safe at Home Week:

Garage Safety Tips

  • Ensure your garage is properly ventilated to prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Keep all chemicals like paint thinner, gasoline, heady duty cleansers and others locked in a secure place out of reach of children and pets.
  • Do not leave tools outside, as they could easily fall and injure someone, especially children.
  • Keep sharp gardening tools and power tools stored in a cabinet away from kids.

Say YES! to a Safe Yard

family playing in a pool

National Safe at Home Week:

Yard Safety Tips

  • Fences should be kept in good condition, to avoid children and pets wandering outside the yard and to keep intruders out.
  • Pools should be fenced and locked to prevent children from entering it unsupervised.
  • Never leave gardening tools unattended especially sharp ones.
  • Weed killer, fertilizer, insecticide, and other potentially poisonous substances should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep the grill a safe distance from any flammable surface including tree branches, decks, curtains, and outdoor furniture.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Loved Ones.

a floor mat that says "Home Sweet Home"

Happy Safe at Home Week!

This is a great opportunity to sit down with your family and discuss home safety tips in order to reduce the risk of accidents down the road. Teach your kids to remain calm and what to do in event of an emergency. Finally, keep a list of important phone numbers handy for all members of the family, including the local police, emergency, a trusted neighbor, and the number and address of your nearest Altus Emergency Center.

Altus Emergency Room Baytown

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