Home Safety

Index

• “For Safety Sake” a Personal Story
• Home Safety Checklist
• Outside the Home
• General Information
• Stairs
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Bedroom
• Garage / Basement / Workroom

When Eileen Shannon was taking care of her ailing mother-in-law, she decided to get grab bars installed in her bathroom. She also acquired a bath seat. She was pretty familiar with safety devices, and she knew her mother-in-law needed the support in the bathroom. Now, to her surprise, several years later, Eileen finds herself using those same grab bars. Although Eileen is generally speaking fairly healthy, she did have two unexpected bouts of illness.

“I thought, I’m 69, I won’t need those things. But when you get ill, and you come back (from the hospital) and you’re weak, you’re mighty glad to have that bar on the bathtub.”

Eileen’s house has other safety features she installed and which she finds handy, such as improved lighting, night lights, lever taps that are easy to manipulate. She lives in a large home, and her house is the place everyone gathers for family get-togethers. She has also child-proofed her home for her grandchildren. When she looks ahead to the future, she sees herself remaining in this house for a long time to come.

The culprit in many home injuries can be seemingly innocent things around your home. Many of which are easily fixed. All it takes is some detective work to track them down. This checklist will help you inspect your home for evidence of trouble that may be waiting to happen. Every “NO” answer is a clue that your home may not be as safe as it could be. If you answer “NO.” then these things need changing.

1. Are the front steps and walkway leading to your house or apartment in good repair?
2. Does your front entrance have an outdoor light?
3. Does the doorway to your balcony or deck have a low door sill or threshold that will not trip you?
4. Do you have non-slip surfaces on the balcony, porch or patio?
5. If you live in a rural area, and don’t have an address on your home, is your home clearly identifiable in some way, for example, with your name on the mailbox?
6. Are stairs and walkways kept free of snow, ice or leaves in the wintertime? Does the surface provide good traction?

If you live in a rural area, have directions to your home by each phone in your house. Make sure the directions are clear. They should refer to main roads and identifiable landmarks, so anyone could find your home quickly in case of an emergency.

General:

1. If you have throw rugs and scatter mats, do they have non-skid backing on them to deep them from slipping? (These types of rugs and mats can be treacherous. If you can part with them, it’s a good idea not to have them at all).
2. If you have throw rugs and scatter mats, do you ensure that they are not placed in high traffic areas or at the top of a stairway, where they can lead to a serious fall?
3. If you use floor wax, do you use the non-skid kind?
4. Are your floor surfaces free from glare?
5. Do you have an easy-to-read list of emergency telephone numbers near the telephones.
6. If you live in an apartment, and have trouble getting around, are you registered on your building’s fire safety plan? (Every apartment building is required to have a fire safety plan, which, among other things, indicates which tenants need help to evacuate the building in case of an emergency).
7. Do you have an escape route in case of fire and a fire safety plan?
8. Are your traffic areas clear of telephone or electrical cords?
9. If you use a space heater, is it placed well away from flammable substances and materials that are likely to catch fire?
10. If you have older appliances, have you recently checked them for worn or frayed cords?
11. Do you know which of your appliances need (grounded) three-pronged plugs?
12. In general, is your home well lit?
13. Are the floors in your home free of obstacles, such as toys and parcels; and do you watch that your pets are not underfoot?
14. Is there a smoke alarm on every floor of your home?
15. Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm in your home?
16. Do you keep important documents in a fire resistant box or cabinet?

Tip: Remember to test your smoke alarm twice a year, make a habit of testing it when you turn your clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall.
Tip: Install a seat at the entrance of your home for people to sit and remove or put on their footwear.

1. Do you have light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs?
2. Are your stairs in good repair?
3. Do the steps of your stairs have a non-skid surface?
4. If you have runners mates, carpeting, treads or any other kind of floor covering on your stairs, are they well fastened?
5. Are there solid handrails or banisters on both sides of the stairway?
6. Are stairs free of clutter?
7. Is your stairway well lit?

Tip: To help avoid taking a misstep, wooden or concrete steps can be painted with a strip of contrasting colour on the edge of each step or the top and bottom steps.

1. Are hot and cold faucets clearly marked?
2. Do you test the water temperature before getting into the bathtub?
3. Do you have a rubber bath mat, or a non-slip surface to make the bathtub or shower less slippery?
4. Do you have grab bars that have been properly placed (by the toilet and near the bathtub), and well-anchored to the wall?
5. Is the light switch close to the entrance?
6. Do you have a night light in the bathroom?
7. If you have trouble taking a shower standing up, do you have a “bath seat” so you can take a shower sitting down?
8. Do you use electrical appliance such as hair dryers and shavers well away from the shower, sink and other sources of water?
9. If you have any trouble getting on and off the toilet, do you have a raise toilet seat and a grab bar?

Tip: If the water from your hot water tap is too hot, the regulator on your hot water tank can be adjusted to lower the water temperature. If you live in an apartment, ask the superintendent to check and adjust the temperature for you.

1. Are your pots and pans, canned goods and staple foods (such as flour, sugar and so on) stored in an easy-to-reach location?
2. Are heavy items in the lower cupboards and light items in the higher cupboards?
3. Do you have a stable step stool (with a safety rail) for reaching high places?
4. Are the “off” and “on” positions on the stove dials clearly marked?
5. Are your oven mitts in a handy location?
6. Do you make certain that your oven mitts do not come in contact with stove elements? (This type of garment can easily catch fire from contact with stove elements).
7. Do you make sure never to cook while wearing loose fitting clothing or sleepwear? (This type of garment can easily catch fire from contact with stove elements).
8. Do you have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, mounted on the wall away from the stove?
9. Do you know how your fire extinguisher works?
10. Do you regularly check that your fire extinguisher is in good operating order?

Tip: Use heat resistant oven mitts rather than pot holders. With oven mitts, you can get a better grip on hot containers. Longer oven mitts provide better protection.

1. Is there a light switch near the entrance to your bedroom?
2. Is there a clear path from your bed to the bathroom?
3. Do you have a phone near your bed?
4. Do you have a lamp or a light switch near your bed?
5. Do you have night lights in the halls in case you get up in the middle of the night?

Tip: You can purchase light sensitive night lights which dim during the day and brightens when it gets dark.

1. Do you have a telephone in the basement?
2. Are your workroom and laundry room well lit?
3. Is your work area well ventilated?
4. Are all chemicals, such as bleach, cleaners and paint thinners, in their original containers?
5. Are all chemicals stored as indicated by the directions on the label?
6. Are flammable materials, such as paint, paint remover and lighter fluid, stored away from sources of heat and flame?
7. If you have a gas barbecue, is your propane tank stored outside of the house? (Stored inside, it is a serious fire hazard)!
8. Are you newspapers regularly discarded?
9. Are heavy items on lower shelves or bottom cupboards?
10. If you use a ladder, is it safe and in good repair?

Tip: Do your fuses or circuit breakers blow regularly? You may need to have a qualified electrician inspect your wiring.
Tip: Recycling is a good way of discarding newspapers and eliminating a potential fire hazard.