Home Safety Hazards: Information For Homeowners

Maintaining a safe household is essential to a high quality of life. But what's involved in maintaining a safe household? Performing proper maintenance, conducting regular inspections, and purchasing household products and fixtures enhance safety are all ways to create a more secure household. Keep reading to find the seven best tips for improving household safety.

Be Fire Safe

Fire safety is critical in any house. Smoking is the leading cause of fire-related household deaths, and cooking is the leading cause of household fires in Canada. There are many ways that homeowners in Canada can protect themselves from household fires.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are best installed in each room and in hallways. Homeowners must test batteries in smoke detectors on a quarterly basis. There are different types of smoke detectors, which are useful for detecting different types of fires.

Ionization detectors are designed to detect "flash flame" fires, and are therefore useful in areas like the kitchen. Photoelectric smoke detectors are good detectors of smouldering fires and are more useful in areas like the attic.

Fireplaces

Homeowners should never leave an unmonitored fire burning in the fireplace. Cleaning the fireplace at least once annually (and more than once per year if the fireplace is used frequently) can help prevent fires in the chimney. If you are planning to buy an electric fireplace, always check recalls and electric fireplace lawsuits before having them installed to prevent unnecessary injury and damages.

Electrical Systems

Electrical systems that overload can cause electrical fires. The best way to prevent this from happening is to have the electrical system inspected by a certified electrician after moving in. Homes with fuse boxes may need to replace their fuse box with a circuit breaker box.

Keep Children Safe

Children are vulnerable to a =variety of household accidents. Some ways that homeowners can keep their homes safe for kids include:

• Keep the water heater set at the manufacturer's recommended temperature.
• Don't allow pot handles to hang over the edge of the stove.
• Keep screens in the windows to prevent children from falling out.
• Keep cabinets with chemicals and medicines latched, so children cannot easily access the contents.

Keep Pets Safe

Dealing with household hazards also includes ensuring pets within the home are safe. Everyday items can be dangerous and fatal if dogs or cats are ingested. Keep the garbage out of the pet’s reach to avoid possible ingestion of moulds, bacteria, and human foods, which are dangerous for pets to eat. Keep cleaning products away from pets and do not allow pets into areas where there may still be some wet cleaning products, such as after mopping the floor. 

Insecticides and rodenticides can be dangerous if ingested by a pet or if the pet comes in contact with the chemical. Call poison control and an emergency veterinarian immediately if the pet does eat any of these chemicals. 

Keep Outdoor Walkways Clear of Tripping Hazards

Under the right conditions, walkways can easily become tripping hazards. There are many ways that homeowners can keep their outdoor walkways safe for members of their household and visitors.

• Pull weeds from the cracks as they grow.
• Repair walkways that become cracked or angled because of tree roots.
• Use de-icing material on icy walkways.
• Sweep debris off the walkways if they become dirty.

Homeowners who inspect their walkways on a regular basis will find it easier to keep up with walkway maintenance.

Light the Way

Proper household lighting can prevent slips and falls and other accidents. Outdoor lighting is also useful for preventing vandalism, burglaries and trespassers. Motion activated outdoor lights ensure that the property is well lit at all the necessary times. For homeowners who want more ambiance in their yard for entertaining, solar-powered garden lights provide attractive illumination in backyards and front yards.

Indoor lighting, especially lighting in the kitchen and bathroom, help homeowners avoid accidents that can cause serious injuries. It's important to ensure that both rooms have a variety of different lighting options such as task lighting, pendant lighting, recessed lighting and so on.

Improve Safety, Improve Peace of Mind

Don't wait until there's an accident to start preventing hazards at home. Taking a few small steps at a time can build up robust prevention over time. There's no need to live in fear when you plan ahead.