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Top 20 Checklist For Home SafetyKids: Use this checklist to test your parents' Home Safety I.Q.! Then, help them make the safety changes around your house! Home sweet home! We all know the saying, and we all know the feeling, too. Home is where we gather with loved ones; it's where we eat, sleep, and relax in comfort and safety - the one place in all the world where we can let down our guard. Or can we? According to the National Safety Council, each year seven million Americans suffer disabling injuries and another 28,000 die as the result of injuries sustained at home. How can you be sure that your home is the safe, sweet haven that you want it to be? Home Safety Council and the National Safety Council offer the following checklist of twenty safety items that no home should be without. For every item that you can check "Yes," you are decreasing the risk that someone you love will suffer a home injury or fatality. Does your home have:
Smoke AlarmsAccording to the NFPA, home fire deaths happen between 10 o'clock at night and 6 o'clock in the morning. Most deaths are caused by smoke and toxic gases, not the fire itself. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement and workshop, and especially in or near near sleeping areas. For extra protection, consider installing a smoke alarm in every bedroom. Be sure to test batteries at least once a month and never remove the batteries from your smoke alarm except to replace them. Carbon Monoxide (CO) DetectorsBecause CO is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, it often goes undetected. Carbon monoxide is a normal byproduct of combustion. Therefore, any fuel-burning appliance in your home is a potential CO source. Every home should have at least one CO detector placed in an area near sleeping rooms. Be sure your detector has been tested by an independent laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Ground-Fault Circuit InterruptersA ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical device that helps protect you from serious injury by monitoring the electricity flowing in the circuit. If an imbalance occurs, the Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter will almost instantly shut off the current flowing through the circuit. A GFCI is essential in circuits to bathrooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, swimming pools, and outdoor receptacles and should be installed by a professional electrician. Test the GFCI monthly by pressing the test button and then the reset button to see that it is operating properly. Fire ExtinguishersPortable fire extinguishers can be effective against small, contained fires. A multipurpose dry chemical Class ABC fire extinguisher is the best choice for general home use. Mount the extinguisher on a bracket on the wall near an exit so that anyone using it can escape from the room if a fire spreads. All occupants of the home must know when and how to use the extinguisher properly. Emergency Escape PlanMake your plan now, before you need it. Have at least two exits from every room and include all occupants of the home in practicing the plan. Choose a meeting place outside your home where everyone will meet once they get out of the house. FlashlightsMake sure the batteries are functional or use flashlights with built-in, rechargeable batteries. Keep the flashlights readily accessible at bedsides and in the basement. First-Aid KitKeep a well-stocked first-aid kit (including ipecac syrup) in your home. Make sure everyone knows where to find it and how and when to use the items in it. List Of Emergency Phone NumbersPost a list of emergency numbers including police, fire, doctors and poison-prevention centers at every telephone in the home. In the event of an emergency, time is of the essence and even a very young child can phone for help if the number is available. In case of fire, phone for help from outside the burning building. Tagged ShutoffsPlace tags on your home shutoff valves for gas, oil, and water, and the main shutoff for your electrical supply. Know how to safely turn off these services to your home in the event of an emergency. Grab BarsInstall grab bars in all bathtubs and shower stalls. Firmly anchor them into the wall studs with long screws. Slip-Resistant FinishesIf the bathtubs and showers don't have a slip-resistant finish (find out by running your hand over it) to prevent falls, use a non-slip mat, or install strips or decals in bathtubs or showers to help prevent slipping. Safety GlazingShower doors, patio doors, window walls, or any other large glass panel in your home should be made with safety glazing materials (safety glass). Look for a permanent mark in the lower corner showing the manufacturer's name, type of safety glass, and thickness. HandrailsEvery set of stairs, whether inside or outside your home, should have handrails securely mounted to both sides of the stairs. Step Stool / Utility LadderA light-weight, sturdy step stool or utility ladder is necessary for those hard-to-reach places, for hanging pictures, and for cleaning and general home maintenance. Having it readily accessible will keep you from substituting with a chair. Sufficient LightingUse night lights near bathrooms, bedrooms, and stairwells. Make sure stairwells and hallways are always adequately lit. Provide sufficient lighting to all walkways and entrances to your home. Tested AppliancesAll electric and gas appliances in your home should carry the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or American Gas Association (AGA) designation. Safety GogglesEye protection is an absolute must for the do-it-yourselfer, but is also recommended for indoor cleaning, yard, and garage work. Survival KitEvery home is vulnerable to acts of nature. To prepare yourself for an unexpected disaster such as a hurricane, power outage, tornado, or earthquake, keep a survival kit available. Your kit should include such items as tools, a battery-operated radio and flashlight, clothing and bedding, containers of water, non-perishable food, and a first aid kit. To get a complete list of what should be in a survival kit, contact your local emergency management office. Homes Where Children Live Or Visit need special consideration. They should have:
Homes With Swimming Pools should have:
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