It’s not something any of us would like to think is possible, but the home can be a dangerous place if you’re not careful. Accidents do happen so it’s a good idea to be as prepared as you can to prevent the worst from happening. Here are a few general safety tips for keeping you and your family safe.
Air Safety
Without knowing it, we breathe in thousands upon thousands of different substances every single day. While the vast majority of these are completely harmless, some can cause serious or even fatal harm. Carbon monoxide is a particularly dangerous one that causes harm without you even knowing that you’re breathing it in. It is particularly harmful for older people and young kids. It’s important to have any gas appliances serviced annually by a qualified engineer, as well as any other appliances that burn fossil fuel. Also, you should install carbon monoxide detectors in your home that are well maintained. You will be able to buy these from any DIY store.
Another harmful gas that people know less about is radon. It is a good idea to have your house tested by a professional, and get some advice about the best ways to minimise your risk of exposure.
Fire Safety
Though the number of fires occurring in the home continues to decrease, there is still a very real threat from certain sources so fire safety is paramount. If this has already happened at home, you should look at fire damage restoration. Make sure your open fires are well guarded, especially from any young children. Also, keep any electrical heaters away from curtains or any other flammable objects. A big percentage of fires start in the kitchen so never leave a frying pan unattended while you are cooking. Make sure that smoke detectors are installed on every floor and that they are all in working order.
Electrical Safety
Electrical safety is another area where accidents are particularly common. Your electrical wiring should be checked on a five yearly basis by an approved contractor to make sure everything is up to code. If you have an appliance that suddenly stops working, don’t try to persevere with it, but instead have it checked as soon as possible. Also, never overload an electrical socket with too many devices and do not use cracked plugs or worn cables.
General Advice
It may be tricky with a large family, but try to keep floors free of clutter to avoid trips, particularly areas nearby to any stairs. Similarly, clean up any spills as soon as they occur. Also, when you are changing lightbulbs or need to reach areas above your head, avoid standing on unstable stools or old chairs to help prevent falling. When you are cooking, it is a good idea to use the back hobs first as you are much less likely to knock these onto the ground, or if you have small children, they have less chance of reaching to pull these off. Minimise the risk of falls from upstairs windows by installing restrictor catches and moving furniture away from the windows themselves.
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