Home, Safe Home

According to the Home Safety Council, the top five causes of nonfatal, unintentional injuries are:

1. Falls
2. Struck by/against
3. Cut/pierce
4. Overexertion
5. Poisoning

These five causes account for almost 80 percent of injuries. Falls alone account for more than 40 percent of all nonfatal, unintentional home injuries.

Don’t go slip-slidin’ away at home. Practice these fall safety tips to protect you and your family from slips, trips, and falls:

• Keep floors, and especially halls and stairs, free of clutter. Don’t stack magazines, tools, laundry, toys, or other items on the floor, and certainly not on steps.
• Make sure stairways are well lit.
• Check that all stairs, including those to the basement, have sturdy railings.
• Tack down any loose pieces of carpet or linoleum.
• Use nonskid mats or decals in bathtubs or showers.

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Good housekeeping is for more than just a good impression. Many struck by/against and cut/pierce injuries happen from poor housekeeping. Poorly stacked materials, objects in walkways, materials leaning against the wall, knives and tools improperly stored, etc., can all cause injuries. Even opening doors can be a struck-by hazard. Follow these housekeeping and sharps tips:

• Stack and store items in kitchen cabinets, storage closets, garage shelves, etc., in a stable manner.
• Watch where you’re going.
• Pause before opening a door and swing it open gently.
• Carry sharp objects pointing down and away from your body.
• Store sharp objects in sheaths.

Overexertion dangers in the home can include shoveling, raking leaves, and lifting and carrying furniture and other heavy objects.

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  Lift safely by bending at the knees, hugging loads close to your body, and letting your legs do the lifting. Get help with large and bulky objects. Use material-handling aids, such as hand trucks, furniture dollies, and wheelbarrows.
• Shovel at a steady pace, bend at the knees, and don’t jerk when emptying your snow load. Spray the shovel with cooking spray if the snow is wet. Take frequent breaks if the snow is wet and heavy.
• Don’t overdo when raking leaves. Spread a large tarp and rake leaves onto it to save raking a large pile long distances.

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You can help prevent poisonings in your home if you:

• Read labels on all household cleaners, paints, garden supplies, etc., and follow their recommendations for use, storage, and cleanup.
• Store cleaning solutions, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals in places where children can’t reach them.
• Keep containers closed when not in use.
• Dispose of old, used, or unlabeled substances carefully. You don’t want them getting into your water or getting into the wrong hands. Many towns have hazardous materials collection days, and they’re the best bet for disposing of these items.
• Post local Poison Control Center phone numbers near your phones.

Get more tips about making a "Home, Safe Home" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyhomes

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Why It Matters…

• In recent years, nearly 20 million medical visits were made because of unintentional home injuries.
• Nearly 20,000 deaths occurred because of home injuries, including 12,000 children.
• Injuries are the leading cause of death for children.

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