HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AROUND THE HOME

A lot of preventable accidents can happen around the home. It is up to home owners to make sure that their homes remain accident-free all year round and this may just be accomplished by paying attention to detail.

Some accidents that may happen at home include home fires, poisoning, cutting, burns or suffocation to name but a few.

To prevent some home accidents follow the tips below:

LABEL EVERYTHING CORRECTLY

Labeling every product in the home is important to avoid mistakes. Labeling powder as it is and flour as it is may prevent a mix up in the future. In either case, it is important to keep things where they belong. For instance, substances that don’t belong in the kitchen should not be put there regardless of whether you live alone or with others.

KEEP POISONS OUT OF REACH

Poisonous substances though some may prove useful for particular household tasks should be kept out of reach under lock and key, if necessary. This is to prevent ingestion or even burning of the skin with corrosive chemicals.

When handling these chemicals, it is important to wear gloves to prevent contact with the skin. Once finished, discard the gloves and the poisonous bottle immediately and safely to avoid contamination.

TURN IT OFF

Turn off the stove after use, turn off the iron, turn off the microwave, turn off the oven and blow off the candle after use. It is important not to play with fire especially indoors.

If somehow you are having a braai inside, make sure there is enough air ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning but its best to avoid fire indoors.

AVOID DISTRACTIONS

It is important to do something and finish it before allowing yourself to be distracted in order to avoid accidents. For example, if frying something and then perhaps you receive an urgent call, turn off the fire. If enjoying a candle-lit dinner make sure to blow off the candles before proceeding to other activities.

SERVICE YOUR FIRE ALARM

Have your fire alarm serviced regularly and make sure your water system is working correctly. Educate yourself and your household on how to put off fire correctly.

KNOW THE HABITS

It is important to observe personal habits and the habits of those you live with. This will not only help prevent any accidents in future but also help in making informed decisions about where you live. Consider yourself and or the people you live with and choose a home space that accommodates your personal habits.

AVOID CLUTTER

Having an orderly living space reduces accidents by far. Make your home spacious and easy to navigate. Remove obstacles from paths, slippery mats should not be used and find ways to make your slippery floors more manageable.

Have you had an accident at home? What happened or what did you do to prevent it? Let us know. Comment below.