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Household Safety Checklist

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Staying safe in your home is always an important priority for you and your family. Be pro-active and ensure your home's safety with this helpful checklist!

Check all electrical wires

  • Look for frayed or loose wires regularly, and repair or replace them.
  • Refrain from running wires under rugs or across doorways where they can cause a tripping hazard.
  • Check your electrical system regularly to prevent shorting. If outlets and plugs are warm, have an electrician inspect them.
  • Don’t overload your outlets. Follow the manufacturers’ directions about maximum wattage of lamp bulbs and outlet requirements for plugs. No more than one high-wattage appliance should be plugged into an outlet at a time.

Practice fire safety

  • Always store flammable liquids and materials safely away from any flame source, including your stove, fireplace, water heater or furnace.
  • Always unplug hair styling tools when not in use.
  • Do not leave candles burning while unattended.
  • Make sure to always turn off your stove or oven when you finish cooking. Your stove, oven and broiler should be cleaned regularly and be free of grease.
  • Place your fire extinguishers in strategic places throughout your home. You should have one on each floor, and definitely one in your kitchen. Make sure they are in an easy-to-reach place, and everyone in your home knows their locations and how to use them.
  • Replace extinguishers regularly, following the manufacturer’s recommendation.
  • Draft an escape plan for your family in case of a fire, with a preferred route and an alternate route. Practice it at least twice a year.

Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

  • Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your home.
  • Test alarms monthly and always replace those that aren’t functioning properly immediately.
  • Always replace the batteries every year or less. If the alarm emits short, chirp-like beeps, it means your batteries are dying.
  • Clean all detectors regularly to eliminate dust and grime.
  • Make sure everyone in your family knows the detectors’ sounds and can differentiate between the two.

Inspect your heating system

  • Have your heating system inspected by a professional at the season’s start in case of any problems.
  • Make sure the outside vents are properly sealed and unobstructed to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
  • If you use a fireplace, have your flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional chimney sweep yearly.
  • If you use a wood-burning stove, have it inspected twice monthly and make sure the door latch closes properly.
  • Inspect water heaters yearly and verify that the temperature is never set higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns.
  • Always turn off portable heaters before sleeping or leaving the house.

Child-proofing

  • Install safety locks on all doors, cabinets, and toilets. You can also purchase safety latches that will prevent your child from turning the stove’s knobs.
  • Cover outlets with outlet covers. Make sure they are not small enough to be swallowed and cannot be easily pried out by curious fingers.
  • Install window guards on all windows, and refrain from keeping climbable furniture near windows.
  • Place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Hardware gates are more secure and must be drilled into the wall. Pressure gates can be toppled over under a small child’s weight.
  • Always keep poisonous or hazardous materials and chemicals locked away securely—preferably in cabinets out of your child’s reach. Do the same for medicines and vitamins, and only purchase varieties with child-proof caps.
  • Keep all sharp objects, such as knives and scissors, safely stowed away and out of child’s reach
  • Do the same for other hazardous objects, such as matches, plastic bags and plastic wrap.
  • Protect sharp edges on furniture with corner protectors and soft foam safety guards.

Other

  • Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street so it can be easily read by emergency vehicle drivers.
  • Keep a flashlight near your bed in case of emergency during the night.
  • Place a nonslip tub mat or decals in your tub to prevent falls.
  • Make sure the area at the top and bottom of your stairs is well-lit, with easy-to-reach light switches.
  • Post emergency numbers (police, fire department, poison control) in a prominent place and make sure all family members know where to find them.

Nicole La Capria  Posted by Nicole La Capria on August 22, 2014

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