Home Safety Month

By David A. Johnson MD, Medical Director, Signature Care

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006; Posted: 4:10 p.m.

June, National Home Safety Month, is a good time to shift focus from blood tests and body parts to another area that can have a major health impact: our environment. Americans make over 20 million medical visits annually, caused by unintentional home injuries. While accidents can never be totally eliminated, there are many things you can do around your house to dramatically reduce injuries and even death. Here are some helpful ideas:

• Falls in the home are still the #1 cause of injury and death in the home for people over age 65. Installing non-skid mats and handrails in the bath can reduce accidents significantly.
• Smoke detectors save lives. Only a marginal number of American homes have and properly maintain them. Check yours today and on a regular basis. Make sure that each floor of your house has one. Carbon monoxide detectors are also appropriate for homes that use gas furnaces or appliances.
• Have a fire escape plan that the whole family understands and knows.
• Place child locks on all cabinets and drawers where poisons or other potentially dangerous items are kept.
• Use covers for electrical outlets and safety tassels for window blinds to reduce accidents to curious children.
• Ensure that hallways, stairways, and paths are adequately lit. Motion sensor lights are useful not only for safety, but as a crime deterrent as well.
• Make water safety a priority with children. Never leave a child unattended in a pool, bathtub, or pond. With small children, even a bucket of water can be potentially deadly.
• Water heaters should not be set above 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Never leave cooking food unattended in the kitchen or on the grill. Turn pot and pan handles toward the back of the stove.
• Have emergency numbers: Police, Fire Department, Poison Control Center, etc. posted in multiple and prominent places in the home.
• Keep in mind that many of the tips that pertain to children may also be valid for some elderly folks as well, if confusion or dementia is an issue.

As we take charge of our health and make good decisions about our well being, making the effort to evaluate and improve the safety of our home environment is an important factor that we often overlook. Taking the time to employ some simple safety measures can go a very long way toward protecting the health of our families and ourselves. Be safe!