How To Avoid Accidents Around the Home
Our homes should be the safest places on the planet, but unfortunately more accidents happen at home than anywhere else. Luckily, most dangers can be easily avoided. Our guide shows you how to prevent the most common incidents.
2 minute read
- Falls are one of the most common causes of injury and can be serious, especially for the elderly. To avoid falls mop up any spills immediately, get rid of clutter and tidy up trailing cables. Remove frayed carpets, use non-slip mats and rugs, and don’t walk on slippery floors in socks or tights. Always ask someone to help you if you can’t do something safely yourself. If you do suffer a fall, contact a health professional if you start to feel drowsy, sick or lose consciousness.
- Burns and scalds are most common from hot drinks, especially with young children about. It is important to ensure your hot water is not too hot, and turn any handles of saucepans inwards when cooking to prevent these types of accidents. The NHS recommend cooling a burn with cold or lukewarm water for 20 minutes and remove clothing or jewellery that is near the burn. Keep the person warm and cover the burn with a layer of cling film, using tablets such as paracetamol can help with the pain. If the eyes or face has been burnt keep in an upright position to reduce the amount of swelling.
- Falling objects in the home are a big risk especially for children, from smaller objects such as lamps and books, to large pieces of furniture and televisions. Heavy and large pieces of furniture pose the biggest risk and it is important that you fix all bookcases, wardrobes and chest of drawers to the wall, especially in children’s rooms. It is worth taking a walk around your home and test different fixtures and fittings, including pictures and frames that could fall.
- Children are prone to putting things in their mouths and if the object is small enough, it’s a dangerous choking hazard. Anything from marbles, earrings and foods such as grapes can cause problems for your little ones. The best way to avoid this is to keep any small items out of reach from kids, but no matter how careful you are, there can always be a risk. Be prepared at all times and read how to help your child if they’re choking.
- Cuts can happen to people of all ages, whether that’s children tripping in the garden whilst playing, or an adult cooking dinner and slicing open their finger. To avoid cuts, make sure that any glass is cleared up properly if there has been a breakage and keep your knives sharp whilst cooking – a blunt knife is much more dangerous because you apply more pressure and it’s more likely to slip and cut you. The NHS advise to stop the bleeding of any cut, apply pressure for a few minutes with an absorbent item such as a towel. Clean the wound with fresh water and pat dry, before applying a sterile dressing such as a plaster or bandage. If the bleeding persists, contact a health professional.
*How To articles are intended as advice only. Please refer to your completion documents for specific information on lease and covenant restrictions and maintenance of your home.*
