According to the Home Safety Council report, there are more than 20,000 deaths and more than 21 million injuries each year in the USA alone because of mere mishaps. Such alarming statistics call for some safety regulations that can prevent such accidents leading to injuries and deaths. As the rule of law, if the house’s structure becomes the reason for anyone’s injury, the architect and designer are held liable. So as an architect, designer, or homeowner, it is your responsibility to take measures to ensure the safety of the inhabitants. For now, let us discuss some tips to make your house accident free.
1. Childproof the Furniture
Children have an instinct to be curious and hyperactive. To have fun and satiate their curiosity, they will meddle with everything in the house. Because of their young age, it is challenging to tell them that their playfulness can result in accidents.
What you can do instead is childproof your home. Cover all the hard corners of your home with soft protective coverings. If your medicine cabinets or cleaning supplies cabinet is within reach of the kids, place a lock on it.
Inspect your home, garage, and garden for any signs of poisonous liquids and products such as paint, car fluids, or pesticide. Following these precautions can minimize the risk of any severe accident.
2. Get Timely Repairs on Water Damage
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Many things can account for water damage in your house, and they are all equally dangerous. Bursting pipes, flooding, and leakage are all inconveniences that can cause serious accidents. Fortunately, there are water damage repairers whom you can contact online with a simple click for help, and they’ll fix the issue.
Since they possess the necessary expertise, it is best to leave this job to them. Because if you delay the repairs, water damage in your home can cause mold to grow. Exposure to these molds, especially black mold, is hazardous to human beings.
Therefore, it is viable to call for professional service providers and repair the cause of water damage and the affected areas immediately.
3. Practice Fire Safety
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A kitchen and a fireplace are hot spots for a fire to erupt. If you are not careful, the ashes from the fireplace can set clothes and carpets on fire, resulting in severe damages. Similarly, if greasy pans are not carefully monitored, they can catch fire and quickly get out of our control.
To make your house accident free, keep a fire extinguisher in your home in a place that is easily accessible. We recommend that you keep it somewhere in the kitchen for quick access in case of a fire.
Apart from that, check the fire alarms and smoke detectors in your home regularly to ensure that they work correctly. As an extra measure, you can plan a fire escape route in your home.
4. Keep Appliances and Cutlery in Safe Spots
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One of the biggest reasons for home accidents is recklessness while using appliances or accidents with the cutlery. Whether you have children or infants at home or you are a little clumsy, it is best to practice precaution at all times.
Blenders, mixers, and knives are dangerous, and you should use them with caution. Once you are done using them, push these appliances away from the shelf’s edge not to tip over or fall by accident. Unplug all of your devices, lest they become the reason for an electrical fire.
Store all the sharp knives in safe places and put delicate utensils out of reach. Although these safety tips might sound absurd, people have faced shockingly devastating mishaps due to negligence while handling such appliances.
5. Make Your Floor and Bathrooms Slip-Proof
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If you are not careful, tiles in your home, kitchen, and bathroom can be very slippery. Especially when it comes to areas near your kitchen sink, bathtub, shower, or bathroom sink, water spillage from these areas can cause accidents if someone slips on them.
To prevent such a thing from happening, take precautions such as mopping or wiping the area clean. According to the NYTimes, two-thirds of bathroom accidents occur near showers and bathtubs, leading to the emergency room.
Therefore, use rugged mats near the bathtub and shower. Install support bars in the shower and near the bathtub to grab if you slip. Taking these precautions can save you from serious injuries.
6. Check Your Outlets
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One of the biggest reasons for a fire breaking out in your home is an electric spark. To prevent that, make sure that you don’t overload any power outlets. Check the outlet and wires for damage and frays, and replace them if you spot any damage.
If you are using any appliance, make sure you unplug it after you use it. Apart from these precautions, you should also secure and organize your wires not to cause an accident if someone trips on them.
Use power strips and surge protectors to manage and keep your wires organized. If you don’t have that, use Velcro or double-sided tape to keep the wires out of the way.
Conclusion
What is the use of a home if we don’t feel safe in it? So, to make your house accident free and the well-being of everyone in the house, take preventive measures.
However, you cannot inspect your home once and enforce these measures yearly. You must actively take precautions every day. Monitor the water damages in your house, loose or hanging electric wires, sharp edges, etc., to ensure everyone’s safety.