Safeguarding Your Family and Your Home
Take a tour of your home and look for safety hazards that can cause trips and falls. Are steps and stairs lighted properly? Do you have rugs that are trip hazards or that slip and slide when you walk on them? Are there electrical or extension cords in traffic paths that you can trip over?
Do an electrical safety hazard check. Test all your GFCI receptacles, not just by pushing the test button. You need to plug something into it and make sure it powers off. Tighten up loose receptacles and plate covers. Replace lights that flicker, or lights that blow bulbs constantly.
Remove household chemicals from the reach of children and animals. Keep the Poison Control Emergency phone # close to your phone. Keep your Veteranarian's phone # close also. Store the numbers in cells phones. Teach your children what to do in case of an emergency.
Keep all medicines and prescription drugs in a safe place, out of reach of children.
Put fire extinguishers on every floor of your home, and an extra one in the kitchen. Make sure every family member knows where it is and how to use it.
Make a fire safety plan. You should have multiple routes out of the home from all rooms. Basements can be dangerous with only one way out, consider whether to put playrooms and bedrooms in a basement without proper exits. Practice the plan with all the family. Determine a place for everyone to meet after an emergency
Put in an alarm system for not only break ins, but for fire and carbon mononxide detection. Make sure all family members know the security code.
These are just a few ideas on how to keep your family safe, to prevent injuries and keep your home free from hazards.
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