Many household injuries can be prevented by fixing safety hazards that are often overlooked. Usually, this involves nothing more than a few simple repairs. Here are the most common hazards to look for, organized by areas in the home.
Many household injuries can be prevented by fixing safety hazards that are often overlooked. Usually, this involves nothing more than a few simple repairs. Here are the most common hazards to look for, organized by areas in the home.
All Areas of the Home:
Electrical Outlets and Switches
1. Outlets and switches unusually warm or hot to the touch.
2, Outlets and switches with missing cover plates.
3. Outlets with smudge marks around the socket where plugs are inserted.
4. Light bulbs that exceed the maximum wattage for their lamp or fixture.
Electrical and Phone Cords
5. Lamp, extension and telephone cords located in the flow of traffic.
6. Cords under furniture, rugs and carpeting.
7. Cords attached to the wall, baseboard or floor with nails or staples.
8. Electrical cords in poor condition (frayed or cracked).
9. Overloaded extension cords or outlets (too many electrical items plugged into one extension cord or outlet).
Rugs, Runners and Mats
10. Small rugs and runners that tend to slide when stepped on.
Shelves
11. Shelves not securely fastened to the wall.
12. Overloaded shelves.
13. Shelves are too high to be easily reached.
Telephones / Emergencies
14. Can they hear the telephone ring?
15. Are emergency numbers posted on or near each telephone?
16. If your loved one lives alone, are they frail or unstable when they walk?
Doorbell
17. Can they hear the doorbell?
Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Detectors
18. Less than one smoke / carbon monoxide detector on each floor of the home.
19. Smoke / carbon monoxide detectors don’t work properly.
Space Heaters
20. An electrical heater with a 3-prong plug plugged into a 2-prong adapter that isn’t properly installed to the socket.
21. A heater placed where it can be knocked over.
22. A heater placed near furniture and other flammable materials such as curtains and rugs.
23. A kerosene or gas space heater that isn’t properly vented.
Kitchen:
24. Towels, curtains, potholders, plastic containers and utensils, and other flammable items too near the stove.
25. Wearing loose-fitting long sleeves while cooking.
26. A kitchen ventilation system or range exhaust not working properly, or not used when cooking.
27. An extension cord or appliance cord that’s too close to a sink or stove.
28. Poor lighting over the stove, sink and countertop work areas.
29. An unstable or broken step stool.
30. Using chairs, boxes, or other makeshift items to reach high shelves.
31. Outdated foods in the refrigerator, freezer, pantry or shelves.
Living Room / Family Room:
32. Clogged fireplace chimney.
33. Chimney has not been professionally cleaned for at least a year.
34. Fireplace damper doesn’t work properly.
35. Fireplace screen broken or missing.
Hallways:
36. Poor lighting.
37. Cluttered with furniture, boxes and other items.
Bathroom:
Bathtub and Shower Areas
38. Non-skid mats or safety strips not used on slippery tub and shower floors.
39. Grab bars not installed in bathtub, shower or toilet areas.
40. Hot water temperature exceeds 120 degrees.
41. No light switch near bathroom door.
42. Hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, etc., not unplugged when not in use.
Medications
43. Medications not stored in the containers they came in, or not clearly marked.
Bedrooms:
44. Lamps or light switches not within easy reach of each bed.
45. Ash trays and smoking materials on bedside tables.
46. Smoking in bed.
47. An electric blanket that’s tucked in.
48. No flashlight near the bed.
49. No telephone near the bed.
50. Sleeping with a heating pad turned on.
Basement / Garage / Workshop / Storage Areas:
51. Poorly lighted work areas.
52. Lights can’t be turned on without having to walk through a dark area.
53. Fuses aren’t the correct size.
54. Power tools that don’t use a 3-prong plug, or are not double insulated.
55. Safety guards missing from power tools.
56. Grounding pin removed from power tool’s 3-prong plug.
Flammable and Volatile Liquids:
57. Containers not tightly capped.
58. Gasoline, paints, solvents, kerosene or other flammable liquids stored too close to ignition source.
Steps, Stairs and Walkways:
59. Surfaces are rough and/or uneven.
60. Stairs are poorly lighted.
61. No light switches at both top and bottom of stairs.
62. Steps are uneven or not the same size and height.
63. Steps have worn or loose treads or carpeting.
64. Steps have nails that stick up.
65. Edges of steps cannot be clearly seen.
66. Handrails not installed on both sides of stairway and outside steps.
67. Stairs and walkways are cluttered.
About Mike Gamble
Mike Gamble President and Founder of Senior Solutions of America, Inc., has specialized in issues important to seniors – from retirement planning to Medicare and elder care – for more than 40 years.
Contact information:
Senior Solutions of America, Inc.
6292 Aventura Drive
Sarasota, FL 34241
email: mike@mikegamble.net
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