Reducing Risk Inside and Around the Home

Home Safety Tips – An Extract Resource From Atlantic

As Yale professor Henry H. Tweedy elogently put it: “Fear is the father of courage and the mother of safety.” Protect your home and your family with these home safety tips.

In the kitchen,

• Keep a distance between flammable objects (papers, curtains, plastics, etc.) and fire sources (oven, stove top, portable heater, etc.)
• Use harmful products (cleaning solutions, lighters) with caution (follow instructions!) and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
• Never leave sharp objects (knives) or other such tools and utensils misplaced or unattended.
• Ensure electrical cords aren’t draped across other appliances or the counter or stove top.

In the bathroom,

• Keep electrical appliances wrapped and away from water.
• Use non-slip strips or floor mats
• Always keep the room clean and as dry as possible.

In the bedroom,

• Never smoke.
• As always, ensure that everything else is a safe distance away from a source of fire or heat.
• You’re most vulnerable when you sleep. Even in bed, keep a phone, light, (and, if necessary, a weapon) within reach.

In the yard,

• Surround your property with a sturdy fence (this is more for keeping in children and pets, but can also serve to remind strangers to keep out).
• If you’ve got a pool, keep it locked down or fenced in when not in use.
• Be careful when working in bad weather. Use sand, salt, and good-traction footware on ice and snow.

On the stairs,

• Keep steps clean and dry.
• Always install stable and sturdy railing on both sides of the stairs.

Guard against fire with these home safety tips:

• Install smoke detectors, check them regularly, and replace the batteries at least once a year.
• Avoid overloading outlets and extension cords.
• Keep fire extinguishers handy and know how to use them.
• Establish a safety exit, ensure all family members know and understand it, practice with drills, and ensure it’s never blocked.
• Never block or pile things on heaters or near heat-exuding appliances; give these a wide berth, plenty of breathing room, and make sure they don’t get overheated.
• Remove dry vegetation around your home, especially during the dry seasons.
• Cover the fireplace with a stable and large metal fire frame.

Guarding Against Intruders

Install a home security system.

Make sure locks are in place and are functioning correctly.

Always check through a peephole or window before opening the door when somebody knocks.

Keep your doors closed even when you’re home, including the garage doors.

Keep blinds or curtains closed so you don’t advertise what’s inside (especially in expensive rooms!).

Request identification if a stranger claims to be a police officer or other government official.

Report any suspicious activity around your house or in the neighbourhood to the local authorities immediately.

Don’t leave digital footprints for criminals. Social networks provide an easy, fun, and dangerous way to announce your exact whereabouts and all times. We often forget that our friends aren’t the only ones privy all of to the information that we post.

• Never announce that you’re leaving your home, especially for prolonged absences.
• Never post your address or phone number.
• Be careful of the information you provide on your answering machine, voicemail, or email signatures.

Households with Children

Never leave children alone or unattended near water or fire.

• If a child is missing, always check bodies of water (pool or bathtub) first—you can prevent a drowning by mere seconds.

Keep medications and chemicals safely out of reach.

Keep choking hazards (small items and small food) safely out of reach.

Keep heavy or breakable objects safely out of reach.

Use round-ended furniture, and avoid sharp objects and accessories.

Secure household items; prevent tipping by securing bookcases, shelves, and other objects or appliances that could disastrously fall.

Immediately replace any damaged, frayed, or faulty materials or appliances that could pose a hazard to an unsuspecting child.

Cover outlets, ground appliances, and coil extension cords when not in use; although these are rules to be followed anyway, they are especially important with children underfoot.

Avoid lead poisoning by double-checking the toys and equipment for your child.

• Opt only for cribs, high chairs, and other regularly used furniture that have been painted after 1978.
• Buy new furniture; old pieces might be worn down or have missing parts, which is hazardous.
• The UL logo indicates products that have been expertly inspected, verified, and deemed safe.

Block or lock the windows, stairways, and doors to prevent accidental falls or unintended wanderings by small children.

Protect kids from plants. Plants are beautiful, infuse the air with oxygen, and decorate a room nicely. But they can be toxic if consumed. Know what plants you have, and opt for the safest ones.

When Vacationing Away From Home

Lock up. Ensure that all your locks are functioning properly and that all doors and windows are locked.

Create the illusion that someone is home:

• Turn on (and leave on) a TV or stereo
• Leave some interior lights on; use a timer if you’re gone for more than a day.
• Leave on exterior lighting

Never leave notes on the door when you go out (for a neighbor, handyman, family member, or whomever)—this is practically you hollering that you’ve left the building.

Pull the plug on certain appliances. You don’t need the toaster, the computer, or the washing machine to be on, for example. You’ll save energy, money, and the risk of something messing up or igniting due to power surges or other mishaps.

Never leave extra keys in expected places. Under the doormat and in the flowerpot next to the door aren’t the wisest of hiding places. Find a very inconspicuous place, or entrust a good neighbour.