June Is Home Safety Month

Home safety is something we all need to be aware of. Can you name the two most dangerous rooms in your home? Do you know what simple items in your home can cause the most serious accidents? Would you know what to do if someone was injured in your home?

Most dangerous rooms

The two most dangerous rooms in your home are the kitchen and bathroom. So many accidents can occur in those places. Falls are particularly severe in bathrooms because they’re easy to cause and the limited amount of space and hard materials can make the fall much  more severe than if it happened elsewhere.

Falls in bathrooms often occur because of water on the floor. The water on the (usually) ceramic tile can make anyone slip. Falls also happen in the shower or bath, either while entering or exiting, or while using the tub or shower.

Because the quarters are so confined, if you fall, chances are you’re going to hit something hard: the counter, the toilet, the edge of the tub, the wall, the floor… If you’re seriously injured and alone, getting help may be difficult because not many people bring their phones in the bathroom with them. If you’re not alone, you may still have some problems getting help if you’ve locked the door.

Kitchens are also quite dangerous but in a different way. While falls are also an issue in the kitchen (spills on the floor) and hitting your head on a hard counter or table, other issues like sharp knives, boiling food or water, or even fires increase the chances of injury.

Simple items that cause injuries

When I taught first aid, I begged my students to rid their homes of all scatter rugs. Those things are so dangerous and the cause of many falls. They’re slippery and can make your feet go right out from underneath your – and they’re easily tripped over if the edges are up at all. But, if you’re determined to keep your scatter rugs, please, please, please…. not at the top of the stairs!

Electrical cords are also dangerous. Many people place them in such a way that they can be tripped over. Items left on the stairs are a major cause of falls, as are small things – toys too – left on the floor to be stepped on in the middle of the night.

What to do if there’s an accident

If you haven’t taken a basic first aid course, it’s a very good idea to do so. Some people would tell me that they can’t take a first aid course because they panic. My response? They panic because they don’t know what to do. Seriously.

The first thing and the most important thing you need to know is how to call for help. Sounds simple, right? Not really. Is your area serviced by 9-1-1 (or other emergency numbers outside of North America)? If not, do you know your emergency number?

If you’re at someone else’s home, your daughter’s, your friend’s, your grandmother’s, do you know the street address? You may know where it is, having been there hundreds of times, but do you know the number? The cross street?

Do you know the phone number of where you are? In this day of cell phones and preprogrammed dialing, it’s not unusual for people not to know the phone numbers of their most frequently visited places.

These are all things that you need to think about when learning about what you need to know about home safety.

Stay tuned for more tips on home safety throughout the month.

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