Home Safety Ideas

The National Safety Council reports that preventable home injuries and deaths are rising. However, these are often preventable. Individuals and families can make their home more safe in many important areas. Many home safety ideas are free and only require home safety awareness and simple actions to correct the risk to a safe home and family. You may choose, however, to purchase safety systems or equipment or to pay for certain safety training.

Secure Your Home

Home invasion and burglary can happen in any neighborhood. Check your home for safety issues you can correct easily and inexpensively. Install deadbolt locks and replace worn door handles with locks. Also make sure window locks are in working order. Always lock the doors and windows at night and when you leave the house. Instead of hiding door keys outside, consider leaving a key with a trusted neighbor, or have family members wear a key on a neckchain. Close and lock garage doors and the door from the garage to the house. Teach children to wait for a parent to answer a door. Consider installing motion sensor lights for nighttime safety. You may also choose to have a security system installed.

Practice Fire Safety

Be prepared for an accidental fire. Have fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in the home and in working order. Develop a fire escape plan and practice it with your family. Teach the children how to dial 911, but stress that it is safer to leave the home and call for help from a neighbor's house or a cell phone. Keep flammable items away from candles, woodburners and fireplaces, as well as off the kitchen stove. Be careful when using portable heaters. Check electrical outlets and appliances for signs of disrepair, and don't overload outlets or extension cords. Keep all types of lighters and matches out of the reach of children. Be careful when using outdoor grills or oil-filled cooking containers such as turkey fryers.

Prepare for a Natural Disaster

Floods, tornadoes and hurricanes are common disasters. Have a safety kit available that you can grab before going to a basement or safe area in the home. Common essentials in an emergency kit include a battery operated radio, flashlights, non-perishable food items and plenty of water. Develop a plan for the family to gather in the home or to seek safety at an agreed-upon place.

Be Aware of Hidden Dangers

Check your home for hidden dangers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists several hidden safety dangers in the home. These hidden dangers include magnets that can come loose and cause a choking hazard. Other small toys and items are also choking hazards for children. Fish tanks and other heavy items can crush a child or injure an adult. Recalled products are hidden hazards if consumers are not aware of them. Check the CPSC website often for recalled home items and toys.

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