Q: What is Home Safety Month?
A: Americans often consider their homes a safe haven from other dangers they may face in the world. But accidents within the home result in close to 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year. The Home Safety Council hoped to draw attention to this serious issue by dedicating the month of June as Home Safety Month. The purpose is not only to create awareness about dangers within the home but to also provide families with the know-how necessary to create a safer home environment. The program -- Hands on Home Safety – urges every individual to take hands-on approach. The council spotlights small changes that can have a big impact on safety, especially for young children and the elderly, and make your family’s well-being a priority.
Q: What can I do to make my home safer?
A: Many common household accidents can be avoided with the recommendations made in the Home Safety Council’s “Hands on Approach.” A few precautionary steps can greatly reduce the impact of the leading causes of home injuries which are fires, falls and poisoning. For example, every level of a home should have a properly installed fire alarm, and alarm batteries should be checked every month. Families should create fire evacuation plans and make sure everyone in their household knows the procedures and exit routes. For families with young children, Council guidelines include safety covers on electrical outlets and anti-scald devices on faucets. Injuries from falls can be avoided with good lighting, and the Home Safety Council suggests using maximum safe wattage in all light fixtures. Bathrooms are hotbeds for falls, so installing strips or decals on shower floors and non-slip mats for bathroom floors are on the list of recommendations. For older Iowans, grab bars in shower stalls are helpful. Young children are at risk for poisonings, so all medicines and toxic chemicals should be placed in high-level locked cabinets. All households should also have carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. On top of these measures aimed at helping to prevent accidents, homeowners can also prepare to react to accidents by posting emergency contact numbers for paramedics, fire departments and poison control centers near every phone. Each of these modest steps can help to save lives. For more information on Home Safety Month and the Home Safety Council, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.