Living in a warm and comfortable home can make us forget that there are potential safety hazards that we need to be careful of. Home safety is extremely important. You need to assess the hidden dangers lurking in your home and take corrective action for peace of mind.
Sometimes, hidden dangers at home can prove just as deadly. If you are looking for easy-to-follow home safety tips, you have come to the right place. We share the top safety tips that will enhance your safety at home. Let’s get started.
1. Never Neglect on Safety Housekeeping
One of the most important general home safety tips that you need to keep in mind is to never neglect safety housekeeping. It refers to preventing minor safety hazards by maintaining basic safety practices as mentioned below.
- Do not clutter the stairways, steps, or the front of doors.
- Ensure that all cords are not lying around for you to trip and fall.
- Store things where you can comfortably reach them.
- When cupboards, cabinets, and drawers are not in use, you should keep them closed.
- Keep dangerous solvents, cleaners, and chemicals properly stored.
- Unplug appliances when they are not in use.
2. Maintain Home Security
Potential security threats accompany homeownership. There could be an invasion of property, loss of power, flood, fire, or worse. To avoid your furniture and other valuable items from getting damaged, burned, or stolen, you have to maintain adequate home security.
Install a door locking and security alarm system to avoid a tragic occurrence. Have smoke detectors to maintain fire safety. You will also need to check their batteries and test the detectors to make sure that they continue to work.
3. Hire a Gas Safety Engineer
Next, you need to hire a gas safety engineer to check your boiler and other gas appliances. Generally, it is the responsibility of the property owner to get the house inspected by a professional and provide you a gas certificate.
Since there is always a possibility of gas leaks, you require an expert to keep things in check. Besides, you cannot rely on smoke detectors to detect gas leaks. If you smell a distinct odour that resembles the scent of rotten eggs, you need to escape and call the right person.
4. Prepare an Emergency Action Plan
Another general home safety tip that you should consider is preparing an emergency action plan. You never know what could go wrong and when it could go wrong. Hence, it is a good idea to be prepared when something happens.
Having an emergency action plan is always beneficial. Think of an escape route or emergency meeting place in case of a hazard. Communicate the plan with each family member living on the property. Only share the house keys or codes with people you can trust.
Avoid sharing on social media about your long vacation away from home. For additional security, install motion detector lights, porch cameras, and video door locks.
5. Remain Alert for Home Fire Safety
There is no denying that home fires can be devastating. They can wreak havoc and destroy everything that comes in the way. This is why you have to remain alert for home fire safety. You have to make sure that your high-risk home items, such as expensive furniture, do not catch fire.
Here is what you need to do for home fire safety.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Keep the stoves and countertops free of grease and clutter.
- Store flammable objects such as air fresheners, bug sprays, and hairsprays away from the stove.
- Set a timer when cooking, as you might forget.
- Wear tight clothing when cooking to avoid getting lit on fire.
Do not leave the fireplace and candles unattended.
6. Eliminate Electrical Risks
Although electricity is incredibly convenient, it can also lead to a safety hazard if not maintained. The following should be considered for electrical safety and the prevention of potential electrical hazards.
- Throw out faulty or old appliances.
- Replace damaged or frayed cords and wires.
- Follow the right steps when replacing light bulbs.
- Do not overcrowd electrical outlets.
- Only use extension cords if necessary.
- Purchase electrical products which have been recognized by the national laboratory.
- Always hire a certified professional to repair electrical systems.
7. Practice Proper Food Safety
No matter what you might think. Food safety is anything but common sense. Food-borne illness and kitchen injury are more common than you think. To protect yourself from potential food safety risks, you need to do the following.
- Keep the kitchen perfectly clean.
- Avoid food contamination by storing raw fish and meat away from vegetables.
- Thaw frozen food before you cook it.
- Make sure that food has been thoroughly cooked before eating.
- Wash your hands regularly, especially when handling raw meats.
- Carefully handle sharp cooking utensils such as knives to avoid injuries.
8. Stock Up on the Necessities
In addition to the above, you need to have all the emergency response items at home. Place them in an easy-to-access location. You will need to purchase the following items.
- A complete first aid kit that consists of pain-reliever, eye patches, and anti-bacterial wipes, gauze, band-aids, and so on.
- Medicine for treating common ailments like colds and upset stomach.
- Emergency numbers for poison control centers, hospitals, doctors, and contacts.
- Inhaler, if necessary.
- Anything else that might be required for your unique needs.
9. Encourage Safe Habits
Finally, you also have to encourage safe habits if you want to eliminate potential safety risks. Have open discussions about safe habits and talk to your family about what is needed of them.
Teach your kids to prioritize safety. Meet with your neighbors to discuss safety and ask for their help if needed.
Conclusion
General home safety requires effort. You cannot just sit back and imagine the potential safety risks away. By following the tips mentioned above, you get to maximize home safety. You must play an active role in protecting your valuable belongings, including the latest furniture.
Always remember that everyone at home has a responsibility to ensure safety. Therefore, you should get everyone involved to minimize the possibility of a safety hazard.
