June is Home Safety Month
- National Home Safety Month is the perfect time to share with kids the importance of a safe home environment. To help, the national nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC) has launched a new, interactive and consumer-friendly Web site. The goal of the new Web site is to educate parents on the necessity to make sure that their home is as safe as possible.
"Our research shows that most parents and other caregivers lack the basic information they need to make their homes safer for themselves and their loved ones. So we designed our new Web Site to bridge that gap, using targeted information for all stages of life. This helps caregivers hone in on the dangers most relevant to their own families. And, we break home safety into simple, illustrated and easy-to-understand steps so everyone can understand what to do to reduce injury risks." – Meri-K Appy, Home Safety Council President.
- HomeSafetyCouncil.org offers tips on how to make your home a safer place to live.
Below are a few ideas to get you started:
Prevent Falls
Falls are the leading cause of home injury. Yet, according to a national Home Safety Council survey, only 13 percent of parents questioned said they have installed grab bars in their tubs and showers. Nearly one-third admitted to not keeping their stairways and hallways free of clutter.
Here is what you and a teen can do to keep the house safe:- Spend time together mounting grab bars in your shower. Be sure to explain to younger children what these bars are used for and encourage their use.
- Keep younger children safe by installing baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs (if necessary)
- Place handrails on both sides of the stairs and steps to prevent small children from losing their balance.
- Teach your children not to touch the stove. Stay by the stove when cooking, or turn it off if you walk away.
- Spend time with kids and discuss why playing with matches and lighters are dangerous.
- Have your kids assist you in replacing smoke detectors installed in you house.
Making Your Home Safer
Prevent Fire and Burn Injuries
In a fire, families have as little as three minutes to escape the home safely. Yet when asked what they have done to prepare their family for a fire, only one in four of the parents surveyed reported that they have planned and practiced a family fire escape plan. Shockingly, nearly a quarter of the parents admitted that they leave the stove unattended when cooking. In a fire, families have as little as three minutes to escape the home safely. Yet when asked what they have done to prepare their family for a fire, only one in four of the parents surveyed reported that they have planned and practiced a family fire escape plan. Shockingly, nearly a quarter of the parents admitted that they leave the stove unattended when cooking.
