22 Safety Items No Home Should Be Without
by Carla Merolla and Laura Coyne
from The National Safety Council
According to the National Safety Council, there were 29,500 deaths associated with the home in the year 2000.
Take an inventory of your home safety items so that you can be prepared to battle any emergency. You'll find that these are all essential to your family's safety. And, of course, add items to this list depending on your family's needs.
1. Smoke
Detectors
Most fires that claim lives
occur at night. Install smoke detectors on every floor and outside each bedroom.
Test detectors once a month, and change batteries when you adjust your clocks in
the spring and fall.
2. Carbon
Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide - an
odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas - killed 300 people last year and sent
thousands more to the hospital. For between $40 and $170 each, place a CO
detector outside of your bedrooms.
3.
Radon-Detector Kit
Hardware stores carry
do-it-yourself radon-detector kits for less than $40. Follow directions
carefully, especially regarding the placement and preparation of the room.
4. Night
Lights
Simple, inexpensive night
lights can prevent late-night falls. Place night lights away from flammable
fabrics like bedspreads. Also, look for new night lights with cooler mini-neon
bulbs. Most stores also carry state-of-the-art plug-ins that glow in the dark
and then fade as day breaks. Be sure you have adequate lighting in all of your
rooms.
5. Sensor
Lights
Outdoor motion-sensor lights
can help you see your way at night and scare off intruders. Usually, you can
replace existing light fixtures with sensor lights without additional wiring.
6. Sturdy
One-Step Stool
Invest in a sturdy one-step
stool to keep on hand when your arms need a boost. Never use chairs or other
furniture to reach high places.
7. Rubber
Suction Bath Mats/Slip-Resistant Throw Rugs
A suction-type rubber mat or
adhesive-backed appliques will keep you steady in the shower stall and buthtub.
A nonskid rug outside the tub will prevent slips when you step out. Use
slip-resistant rugs throughout your home.
8. Grab
Bars
Hold on to a wall grab bar
when you get in and out of the tub. If your bathroom doesn't have grab bars, you
can purchase them at most hardware stores. Fasten them with long screws securely
into the wall studding - not merely into the plaster, tile or wallboard.
9.
Handrails
Stairs and steps account for
nearly half of all fatal falls in the home. Every set of stairs, whether inside
or outside your home, should have sturdy handrails securely mounted on both
sides.
10.
Deadbolt Locks
Put a deadbolt lock on every
entrance to your home. Ask the locksmith for a deadbolt lock that's pick- and
drill-proof. Invest in sturdy doors; a good lock doesn't serve its purpose on a
flimsy door.
10a. Another lock that's important is one for your gun cabinet. Always lock your gun, if you have one, and lock up your ammunition separately from your gun.
11.
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters
GFCIs stop the "juice"
before electricity can leak out and hurt you. Although most new homes come with
GFCIs, older homes may not have them. You can replace outlets for $9-$13 each,
or you can purchase plug-in or portable GFCIs for about $12-$30 each. Use them
throughout your home, especially in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.
12. Fire
Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers have
categories for different types of fires. For the home, experts recommend a "BC"
or an "ABC" extinguisher. Never purchase or use an "A" extinguisher in your
home. These water-based extinguishers can cause flames to splatter or cause
shocks in an electrical fire.
13.
First-Aid Kit
The kit should include,
among other items, antiseptic ointment, bandages and gauze pads in assorted
sizes, adhesive tape, cold packs, disposable gloves, hand cleaner, scissors and
tweezers, syrup of ipecac and eyewash. Check expiration dates and periodically
restock. And educate yourself on how to treat injuries.
14.
Flashlights
Keep flashlights where you
can easily get to them in case of power outages and severe weather. Test them
regularly. Keep extra batteries close by so that you don't have to fumble
blindly in an emergency.
15.
Fire-Safe Window Guards/Safety Glazing
Falls from windows cause
death and serious injury to children each year. Don't rely on screens to prevent
falls; they're only designed to keep bugs out. Never place furniture or beds
next to windows where children can climb. Keep windows locked when not in use.
If you use window guards, they must have a release mechanism so they can be
opened in an emergency. Consult your fire department for proper placement.
Children should also practice opening the window in their bedroom so that they
know how to escape out of a window. You also may need to purchase an emergency
escape ladder for each upper-story bedroom.
Safety glazing prevents windows from shattering into shards of glass. Instead, if broken, the glass forms safe pellets. Look for a permanent mark in the lower corner showing the manufacturer's name, type of safety glass, and the thickness.
16.
Written Family Evacuation Plan
Preparation and practice for
all emergencies is vital for all families. Know the fastest way out of your home
and how not to become trapped. Your home should include two exits from each
room. Practice an evacuation plan with your family before a real emergency hits.
17. Family
Disaster Kit
When disaster occurs, grab
this kit to take with you. Such a kit would include such essential supplies as
nonperishable food, water, cash, flashlights, tools, a battery-operated NOAA
all-hazard alert radio, and a first-aid kit. To save time when evacuating, you
can store this kit in a car or in an unattached garage.
18. NOAA
All-Hazard Alert Radio
This radio will help you in
a weather emergency, such as a tornado, hurricane, earthquake or other
emergency. You'll pick up the frequency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, which will include instructions on whether to stay in your home,
when to evacuate, and the status of the emergency event. You can purchase such a
radio at a local electronics store.
19. Posted
Emergency Phone Numbers
Your posted list should
include the local police and fire departments and your physician. Also include
the numbers of friends or relatives as well as your local poison control number.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has established a nationwide
number for people to use to reach their local poison control center. It's
800-222-1222. Post your list by every phone in the house.
20. Tested
Appliances
Appliances using gas or
electricity should bear the certification mark from a qualified testing
organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, the Canadian Standards
Association or the American Gas Association.
21.
Personal Protective Equipment
Safety goggles, work gloves,
face masks, and hard hats are all must-haves for do-it-yourselfers. Protect
yourself when tackling that next home project.
22. Tagged
Shutoffs
Know how to shut off valves
for gas, oil, water, and your home's main electrical supply. Tag each valve so
you can easily identify the switch in an emergency.
TIERS also offers these items that no home should be without. See the www.ti-rescue.org home page for more information:
Reflective Signs: Mark your house clearly to insure fast response by ambulance, fire or police.
File Of Life: Conspicuously post your and loved ones’ medical information for fast reference by emergency medical responders.
SafeGuardTM Membership: to provide protection from out-of-pocket expenses for TIERS ambulance service.
Life-Saving First Aid and AED Training: Thousand Islands EMS Training Academy offers first aid, Automatic External Defibrillator and First Responder/EMT training, and is affiliated with The National Safety Council and the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, offering courses and information from both.