There are many small and easy things you can do to protect your
family from injuries in the home, some of which are listed below.
Home accidents kill one person every 16 minutes and injure one person
every four seconds in the U.S. Make sure emergency telephone numbers
are next to all phones to make it as easy as possible to get help
if someone gets hurt.
What can you do?
About Poison
- Read warning labels and follow storage directions on household
products.
- Poisonous products can include medicines, cleaning supplies,
hair spray, and home repair materials.
- Keep poisonous products out of children’s sight and reach on
high shelves. Install child-proof latches on cabinets that do
not have locks.
- Store
food and non-food products separately to prevent confusion and
protect your family from container contamination and toxic spills.
- Always
choose non-toxic alternatives when possible and use products with
child-resistant caps.
- Never
mix cleaning products together; they may produce dangerous fumes
(ammonia and bleach should never be mixed).
- Install
Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors in your home.
- Flush
expired medicines down the toilet rather than throwing them in
the garbage.
- If
it is necessary to use harsh chemicals, use them when children
are not at home, or at least are in a different room. Always wear
gloves when handling products that could be toxic and follow all
manufacturers’ instructions.
About Fires and Burns
- Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home near every
bedroom. Test detectors every month and change their batteries
every year. Never disable smoke detectors.
- Develop a family escape plan.
- Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of children’s reach.
Never smoke in bed. It is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from fireplaces, heaters,
and radiators. Replace frayed electrical wires.
- Take care to avoid kitchen fires and burns. - Stay in the kitchen
while cooking. - Turn pot handles toward the inside of the stove
so children cannot grab them. - Install ground-fault circuit interrupters
(GFCIs) in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Set water-heater thermostats below 120° F (50° C). Always test
the water before bathing yourself or your child.
About Drowning, Choking, Suffocation, and Strangulation
- Never leave children alone near water, including bathtubs, buckets,
swimming pools, rivers, and the ocean. Learn and practice First
Aid and CPR.
- Use child-proof fencing around all swimming pools and hot-tubs.
- Avoid toys for children under 3 years of age that are smaller
than 2 inches long and 1 inche wide. Toys for young children should
never have small or removable parts that could be choked on.
- Avoid window blinds with looped cords, which may cause strangulation
if not stored out of children’s reach.Keep plastic bags and drawstring
cords away from children.
About Falls and Other Injuries
- Keep your floors free of anything that may cause tripping, such
as toys, shoes, or magazines.
- Use stools, ladders and stepladders carefully.
- Make sure that your home is well lit.Use guards on windows and
safety gates near stairs to keep children from falling
- Follow manufacturers’ instructions for storing and using lawn
equipment or chemicals.
- Wear protective gear on eyes and ears when using power tools.
- Keep sharp or electronic kitchen and bathroom items out of children’s
reach. Keep electric appliances away from water.
- Always keep firearms well secured. Firearms should always be
locked, unloaded, and stored out of reach. Store ammunition in
a separate, locked location.
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