Protecting your family from potential dangers requires a comprehensive approach. If you’ve already installed guards in outlets, put a gate to keep your baby away from the stairs, and locked up all of your medication, you’re well on your way to making sure that your home is completely safe. Just to make sure that you’ve covered all of your bases, you may want to consider these seven potential danger zones in your home and double check for any hidden hazards.
Kitchen
Your kitchen can pose a wide range of dangers, and the issue can be more than the heat of your oven or stove top. Minor spills could lead to a fall, and open drawers or cabinets are a serious concern to your children who may move around at a lower level. Knives are another serious hazard, and they should be placed safely, with the blade away from unknowing hands. While washing dishes, it’s essential to make sure that no knives are hiding under the water because they could cause severe cuts.
Bathrooms
While the bathroom may be the smallest room in your home, it can be an incredibly dangerous area. If you’ve installed tiles on the floor, when the bathroom floor is wet, which it usually is, slips and falls can be a common occurrence. Checking the temperature on your hot water heater is another consideration. If the temperature is higher than 110 degrees Fahrenheit, hot water could scald your children while they are taking their bath. Electrical appliances that are installed in the bathroom are another serious danger, and you should make sure that no devices are allowed to contact water. Many people also keep medicine in the bathroom, and the products should be well protected from children. Even something as commonplace as rubbing alcohol or mouthwash may be fatal, if ingested by a young child.
Attics and Basements
Many people use attics and basements to store various goods that are not used on a regular basis. If you keep old newspapers, magazines, or clothing, you may want to make sure that the area is safe from a potential fire. Any item that can easily catch on fire should be kept away from your heating components. Some attics and basements also have steep stairs, and proper lighting is essential.
Stairs
In addition to the threat of steep stairs in your attic or basement, stairs pose a potential tripping hazard, especially to young children. If you regularly leave items at the bottom or top of your stairs, you may be exposing your family to hidden dangers. Carpets on the stairs are another area to check, and a loose rug can increase the chances that someone is hurt going up or down the stairs.
Windows
Stuck windows may lead to injury, and you may want to ensure that your windows are fully functional to reduce the chance of pulling muscles in your lower back. Windows are inherently dangerous because they contain huge panes of glass. If you wash the windows while standing on another object, you may unintentionally fall into the glass and seriously cut yourself.
Swimming Pools
Especially for small children, swimming pools can present a serious hazard, and fences should protect the area from small children. Gates should have a locking mechanisms that keeps the pool water safe from any uninvited guests.
Fireplaces
If you use a fireplace for heat or ambiance, it may contain hot ashes or embers that could be a serious fire hazard. For this reason, it’s a good idea to use a screen or a door to protect your family from a glowing fire. Chimneys are another potential hazard, and they should be cleaned and checked on an annual basis.