Increase Home Safety: 5 Prevention Tips For Common Household Hazards

We all want to feel safe at home. To do so, there are several potential home safety hazards to look for. Home hazards are a reality of life, but there's no need to live in fear. Knowing how to take preventive action will protect your household's peace of mind. Whether dealing with potential fire hazards, dangerous household chemicals, securing furniture and appliances or adding lighting to a staircase, these tips can make any home as safe as possible.

Prevent Fire Hazards at Home

Most home fires start in the kitchen as a result of unattended burners and splattering grease. Ways to prevent grease fires include covering the pot with a metal lid, cooking grease at the appropriate temperatures, and removing it from the burners when if it starts to smoke. Unfortunately, water doesn't effectively extinguish grease fires, so make sure you keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.

Another critical area where fires can start is where the furnace or heating system is located. Keeping the system in good working order is the best preventive measure. Owners should also look for discoloured electrical outlets while noting any warm switches, outlets and flickering lights.

Lint buildup in the dryer is another common culprit of house fires. Choosing new energy efficient upgrades will also help reduce the risk of appliance fires.

Homeowners should have a solid fire safety evacuation plan and have "practice runs" so everyone knows what to do should a blaze arise. Many hazards can be identified during a home inspection, so don't skip having one.

Be Cautious With Hazardous Household Chemicals

Many owners don't think twice about simply putting cleaning supplies under sinks, chemicals and pesticides on garage shelves and laundry supplies within easy reach. Proper chemical storage needs to be a priority for every household.

To minimize the risk of poisoning, hazardous materials should be stored in a secure storage container, and gasoline should be stored outside the home. Keeping them labelled is essential, and chemicals should be properly disposed of rather than dumped outside or down sinks.

Keep Staircases Clutter-Free & Well-Lit

Trips and slips are the most severe risks on indoor and outdoor stairs. Often this results from the stairs being in a state of disrepair or lacking ample lighting and railings.

Owners should regularly check stairs for structural integrity and make any needed repairs ASAP. If stairway steps are made of slippery materials when wet or by design, adding anti-slip treads can minimize falling hazards.

Staircases require lighting, and indoor hallways may have inconveniently placed switches. In many cases, outdoor stairs lack lighting entirely, making them particularly dangerous.

Improving lighting on staircases is usually an easy fix, especially with options such as:

• LED Strands
• Tap Lights
• Recessed Spotlights Near Treads
• Motion Sensing Lighting
• Rail Lights

Secure Fall-Prone Appliances & Furniture

Tall, heavy furniture and appliances can tip over onto people, pets or other goods, which potentially can cause severe injury or damage. Use anchors or brackets to secure:

• Major Appliances
• Top Heavy Items
• Dressers
• Bookshelves
• Chests
• Armoires

This can be extremely important for families with pets or children prone to climbing. Another tip is to use furnishings that are appropriate in certain rooms. For example, avoid using towering shelves and bookcases in youngsters' rooms.

Keep Pets Safe, Too

Having pets in the home can bring forth additional hazards that owners may want to be mindful of. Pet owners may face challenges with indoor animals that tend to chew electrical cords. Covering cords with chew-resistant cable wraps can prevent electrocution or painful shocks.

Cords for drapes and blinds can quickly get pets tangled up, but cutting them short or tying them back is an easy fix. Also, owners should avoid leaving any chemicals or toxic plants where pets can get to them.

Be Proactive About Preventing & Resolving Home Hazards

Owners who are diligent and know how to handle the most common household hazards can ensure more excellent safety for their families and guests. Using these tips, homeowners better understand what to look out for to stay safe and how to take proactive measures to prevent incidences.