Where do you feel safest? Most Americans say their own home. According to The Home Safety Council’s study The State of Home Safety in America, unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 21 million medical visits on average each year.  There are some simple steps recommended by the Home Safety Council to minimize the risk of potential injuries, or even death.

Prevent Falls

• Have grab bars in the tub and shower.
• Have bright lights over stairs and steps on landings.
• Use baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs, if babies or toddlers live in or visit your home.

 Prevent Poisonings

• Lock poisons, cleaners, medications and all dangerous items in a place where children can’t reach them.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.
• Call Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison to connect to emergency help.

 Prevent Fires & Burns

• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Blow the candle out if you leave the room or go to sleep.

 Prevent Choking and Suffocation

• Things that can fit through a toilet paper tube can cause a young child to choke. Keep coins, latex balloons and hard, round foods like peanuts and hard candy out of children’s reach.
• Clip the loops in window cords and place them high where children can’t reach them.

 Be Smart Around Water

• Stay within an arm’s length of children in and around water – including bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas.
• Empty large buckets and wading pools after using them. Keep them upside down when not in use

 For more information, safety checklists and additional tips on keeping you and your family safe, visit the Home Safety Resource Center. Stay safe!