Preventing Accidents at Home

A few simple precautions can help to prevent many common household accidents. Start today to make your home safe by:

• Making sure stairs are clearly lit. Install light switches at the top and bottom of stairways.
• Keeping exits and passageways free of boxes, furniture and other tripping hazards. Regularly clear the floor of toys, games, magazines and other obstructions.
• Making sure you can see over the top of what you're carrying to avoid tripping.
• Making sure that all of your small rugs have slip-resistant backing. Put cut-to-fit rubber matting or two-sided tape on rugs that don't have their own backing.
• Marking sliding glass doors with decals or decorations. Someone could easily walk through what looks like an open door.
• Wiping spilled water, grease, or food peelings immediately to prevent slipping.
• Placing a rubber mat or adhesive strip on the bathtub floor. This will reduce the possibility of slipping in the bathtub.
• Purchasing bedroom night-lights for children and elderly people. Falls can happen easily in a dark bedroom.
• Wearing shatterproof safety glasses when operating any power tool. If you wear eyeglasses, use safety glasses that fit over them.
• Never storing inedible products in the same place as food. This may result in accidental poisoning.
• Not saving medicine. Discard all leftover medications by flushing them down the toilet.