There Is No Place More Important To Keep Safe Than Your Home, Especialy If You Have Young Kids Who Don't Realize The Dangers In Common Household Items.
There is no place more important to keep safe than your home, especially if you have young kids who don't realize the dangers in common household items. Home injuries and deaths are on the rise in communities all over the US, and shockingly, most of these are preventable. They result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year.
In order to make the home a safer environment, people need to be aware of the hazards around them and change their behaviors. An accident or injury can occur in any part of your home. Some safety hazards are obvious - such as a toy truck left lying at the top of the stairs. Others are not so easily identified - such as a stairway railing that has become loose.
The people at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have been testing, verifying, validating and inspecting thousands of everyday things to keep families safe and give parents a peace of mind since 1894. They have launched a new website called Safety at Home and designed a quick home safety checklist in order to keep kids out of harm's way.
Home Safety Checklist
- Sound the Alarm: Install smokes detectors and carbon monoxide detectors all around the house. Make sure they are in working order and replace batteries every so often.
- Avoid Overload: Check for overloaded extension cords - usage should not exceed the recommended wattage.
- Don't Get Tippy: Make sure bookshelves and other furniture are firmly secured to prevent tipping.
- Paint Safe: Check walls for loose paint. If re-painting, do so in a well-ventilated area and consider VOC-free paint.
- Childproof, Childproof, Childproof: Areas of particular danger include outlets, appliances, electronics, stairs and windows.
- Cover Outlets: Cover all unused outlets to prevent children from sticking a finger in the socket.
- Watch Cord Placement: Extension cords should not be placed under rugs or heavy furniture, tacked up or coiled while in use.
- Get Grounded: All major appliances should be grounded.
- Plan Your Escape: Practice a fire escape plan with your family where you identify two exits for every room and what to do with young children.
- Give Your Air Heater Some Space: All air heaters should be placed at least three feet from beds, curtains or anything flammable.
- Keep Extinguishers Handy
- Create a Safe Exit: Consider an escape ladder if your home has two floors. Keep emergency numbers and contacts readily available by the phone.
- Unplug Appliances: Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use and store them out of reach.
- Go New in the Nursery: Check that all painted cribs, bassinettes and high chairs were made after 1978 to avoid potential lead paint poisoning.
- Cool Your Jets: Set your water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid potential burns and to save energy.
- Put Away Medications: Take medications and medical supplies out of your purse, pockets and drawers, and put them in a cabinet with a child safety lock.
- Look for UL: The UL Mark appears on products that have been tested, verified and inspected for safety.
By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that your family is kept happy and healthy. For more tips of creating a safe home environment for your child, go to the UL home safety website by clicking here.
Safety doesn't take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. In a home with children, it is especially important to take extra precaution with products that pose as dangers to your child's wellbeing. Join UL's fight for a safer world and "Commit a Minute" by telling them how you keep your family safe.
Contact a Child Injury Lawyer
If your child or someone you know has been injured because of a dangerous household item in California, contact the San Diego personal injury attorneys at the Jurewitz Law Group. Manufacturing companies have a duty to provide safe products with the proper labeling. If they don't do their job, they are responsible for the injuries they caused. Your child's safety is a priority to us, and we will get you the compensation you need and deserve to cover the accident-related costs. Call our law office at 888-233-5020.
Have you been injured in an accident in San Diego or anywhere in California and don't know what to do next? We are here to help and provide you with the important and relevant information you need to make an informed decision about:
- How to handle your personal injury claim
- Who is the right injury accident attorney to help you with your case, and
- Whether you even need to hire a lawyer to help you with your insurance claim
Call the Jurewitz Law Group at 888-233-5020 to order one of our free California personal injury books to get the information you need or to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced San Diego personal injury attorneys.
