Common-sense precautions help keep home front safe

Danger lurks in the domicile

(NUE)--More than 3 million Americans are injured and another 20,000 die in the United States each year as a result of accidents in the home. The majority of these accidents are caused by carelessness.

Accidents can happen when people use tables and chairs as ladders, misuse kitchen appliances and leave objects on stairways that cause others to trip.

Many accidents occur outside the home, as well. How often have you heard of people injuring themselves while mowing the lawn or tripping over a rake? These are needless accidents, preventable by using care and common sense. Here are some tips to make life at home less hazardous:

Falls are the largest single cause of home accidents. Gates at the top of a stairway can prevent small children from falling down the stairs. Railings and banisters can prevent elderly people from falling.

Small rugs on polished floors should have a rubber backing or be fastened down to prevent sliding. A rubber mat or hand grip will help prevent slipping in the bathtub.

Most burns occur in the home. Burns and scalds are among the most common injuries to children. Many result from careless use of kitchen equipment.

Turn handles of pans away from the edge of a stove, especially if small children are present. When cooking with fat, stand back from the stove to avoid spattering grease.

Careless smoking accounts for about 25 percent of the fires that occur in one- and two-family homes and for about 30 percent of apartment fires. Be sure to install smoke and fire detectors at strategic locations in your home. Keep the batteries fresh, and make sure the detectors are in good working order.

Working on a roof requires extra caution. The surface is usually slick, sloped and well above the ground. A wet roof can be very slippery. Never get on a roof when lightning threatens.

If fire does break out in your home, crawl--do not walk--to the nearest exit. Smoke rises and is more easily inhaled if you're standing. If clothes catch fire, roll in order to smother the flames. Know two ways out of every room, and make sure all family members know them, too.

DeCinzo

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