While we do our best to keep our families and homes safe, sometimes things that seem obvious can be overlooked. The following list offers ten simple ways to help keep your family and home safer:
- Check all extension cords for damage before use, and only use in appropriate outlets, or use an adaptor if necessary.
- Never leave cords or extension cords in reach of children or pets, or in precarious positions where clothing or other items can become tangled in them. Do not place extension cords across walkways or in high traffic areas.
- Unplug items such as hairdryers, curling irons, and space heaters when they are not being used.
- Never leave a space heater on when you leave the house. Be sure space heaters are kept well away from furniture, curtains, and of course, water sources.
- Use outlet covers until your children are well past the age where they might be tempted to put something into an outlet.
- Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for wattage on all lamps or lighting fixtures, and use the lowest possible wattage bulbs to avoid overheating.
- Do not place floor lamps, especially those with halogen bulbs, near draperies, curtains, or too close to the wall, and do not leave them on for long periods of time, or when you leave your home. Halogen lights can become very hot and cause fire.
- Keep all cleaning products, pest control products, or other toxic items out of children’s reach. Do not rely on cabinet locks alone, as children will figure them out eventually. Put these items in a high cabinet, and use cabinet locks as a secondary precaution.
- Keep all medicine out of reach of children. This includes teens who may be tempted to experiment. Keep medications (and alcoholic beverages) in locked containers if necessary.
- Never leave the stove unattended while cooking, even for a brief period of time. Turn all pot and pan handles inward, so they don’t stick out over the edge of the stove where they can be bumped.