Home Safety

• Every year millions of people in the United States are injured and thousands of deaths occur where most people think that they are the safest- in their homes

Most common types of home accidents.

• Falls and bumps.• Cuts.• Poisonings.• Fires and electrical problems.

• Falls and bumps: Falls are the greatest cause of all injuries and deaths in the home. Children and older people fall most often. However anyone can fall downstairs of slip.

• Cuts: Knives, scissors need to be stored properly but also saws and lawnmowers.

• Poisonings: According to the American Red Cross more than 90% of all poisoning take place in home and most victims are under 5 years.

• Fire and electrical problems: Fire and electrical problems are the second greatest cause of accidental home deaths. Examples are careless cooking, smoking, faulty wiring, and overloading outlets.

Reasons for Accidents• Carelessness• Physical Limitations

Preventing Falls• Wipe up spills immediately.• Anchor Rugs.• Arrange furniture out of traffic areas.• Use stepladders to reach high places.• Keep areas well lighted.

Preventing Cuts• Store knives with protective sheaths.• Keep knives away from children.• Wear protective gear.• Don’t wear jewelry or loose clothing.• Always wear shoes when operating mowers.• Turn off power to adjust or fix tools.

Preventing Poisonings• Know poisonings in your home.• Lock childproof latches.• Be aware of medicines, cleaning materials.• Keep emergency numbers by phone.• Keep all materials in original containers.

Preventing Fires• Pull furniture away from walls.• Cap all electrical outlets.• Avoid plugging too many appliances into one outlet.• Check wiring on all appliances for safety.

Outside the Home

Swimming Pools• According to the U.S. Life Saving Association drowning is the

third leading cause of unintentional death in the U.S.

• Second leading cause for ages 5 to 44.• Leading cause for ages 1 and 2.

What to do in a Swimming Accident:• Call 911 immediately.• Always have a cordless phone near pool.• Throw a floatation device to victim.• If you must enter the water to assist, take a floatation device

large enough to carry two adults.

What about the Kitchen?• Sources of Danger: Knowing what dangers might occur will

help you avoid them. Pay close attention to your work, develop careful work habits and follow safety rules.

• Knives and open cans are sharp.• Ovens and ranges get hot.• Grease on the floor can be slippery.• Food can be so hot it can burn.• Electrical appliances can cause shock.• Leaks from gas appliances.

Safety in the KitchenPrevention MethodsPreventing Cuts• Wash knives separately.• Hold the knife by the handle.• Cut by moving the blade away from you.• Insert beaters into a mixer before plugging in the appliance.

To Prevent Burns and Scalding• Use pot holders to handle pots and pans.• Keep handles turned into the center of the range.• Lift the far side of a pan’s cover first so the stream won’t burn

you.• Use plastic spoons rather than metal. Metal spoons can get

too hot.

To Prevent Kitchen Fires• Keep all flammable materials away from the range.• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.• Smoother a grease fire by turning off the heat source and

covering the pan. Never use water.• Keep sleeves and clothing away from flames.

To Prevent Electrical Shock• Unplug appliances not in use by pulling on the plug.• Keep electrical appliances away from water, and don’t touch

them with wet hands.• Don’t stick metal objects into a toaster or other electrical

appliance.• Don’t use appliances with frayed cords.

To Prevent other Injuries• Wipe up spills immediately.• Never turn on the range if you smell gas.• Store chemicals well out of the reach of children. Use child

proof locks.• Stand on a stool, not a chair to reach high places.• Never leave anything on the floor.

Kitchen Sanitation• Food Borne Illnesses: Microscopic bacteria can grow unseen

in foods and cause serious even fatal illnesses.• Bacteria can usually only be seen with a microscope. Such

examples are salmonella poisoning, botulism.

Salmonella• Bacteria that grows on foods such as poultry and eggs. Spread

from one food to another by improper cleaning of utensils and cutting boards.

• Symptoms: nausea, diarrhea, cramps, fever.

Botilism• Serious often fatal illness affecting the nervous system caused

by improperly canned foods.• Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, double

vision.• Prevention: Never taste or eat food from leaking cans. Always

cook at proper temperature when canning food.

E-Coli• Dangerous foodborne illness that can result from eating

contaminated rare beef, unpasteurized milk or juice.

• Be careful with organic fertilizer in the garden during the summer.

Sanitation Practices• Use hot soapy water.• Wash hands frequently.• Wash fruits and vegetables.• Use a clean plate for cooked food. Never use same plate that

held raw food.• Use clean towels.• Keep pets out of food areas.

Dealing with Pests• Flies, ants, cockroaches, mice and rats contaminate food and

surfaces.• Don’t spray areas where food will come into contact with it.• Hire Professionals.• Use traps rather than sprays.

Cooking with Proper Temperatures• Bacteria: Do not keep perishables and cooked foods within

the 60 F to 125 F range for more than two hours. Bacteria grows to dangerous levels most rapidly within this range.

• Killing Bacteria: High temperature such as cooking or boiling can kill most bacteria. However, time and temperature very.

• Low temperatures slow down but doesn’t stop growth of bacteria. Freezing food does not kill bacteria but keeps it from growing.

• Take extra care with foods that spoil quickly such as milk, meat or custards.

• Easy foods that don’t need refrigeration are breads, nuts, seeds, cereal, rice, and pasta. All can be stored over time.

Child-Proofing Your Home• Child-proofing reduces chances for accidents. To make an

environment safe, explore it on your hands and knees, you may discover dangers not visible at a higher level

Safety Precautions with Children

• Put plastic caps over electrical outlets.• Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs.• Put dangerous objects out of reach.• Store medicines , cleaning products in cabinets with safety

locks.• To prevent suffocation, keep plastic bags away from children.

Safety Precautions with Children

• Give infants and toddlers sturdy playthings.• Prevent them from climbing on furniture.• Teach the concept of “hot”• Keep handles turned away from outside.• Keep children away from fans, fireplaces, stoves, etc.• Always secure children in car seats and highchairs.

Renter’s Insurance• Insurance: Kind of insurance that covers personal property

losses when renting a building you do not own.• Premiums are based on the amount of coverage, building and

location.• Conduct a personal property inventory to determine how

much coverage you will need.

Works Cited• Center for Disease Control. CDC.gov• Glosson, Linda. Creative Living. McGraw-Hill, New York 2000.• United States Department of Health and Human Services.

USDHH.gov