Home Safety Month Offers Tips to Save Lives

Home Safety Month Offers Tips to Save Lives
By Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito

6/10/2005

Over a hundred West Virginians die each year because of common household accidents. According to the Home Safety Council, West Virginia ranks fifth in the country among unintentional home deaths and third in deaths caused by falls. These deaths are most often the result of slips, falls, fires, burns, poisoning or drowning. Steps can be taken to improve home safety and better protect our families, especially our children and seniors who are the most prone to these accidents.

The first step in improving home safety is to learn which actions to take. The Home Safety Council offers the following ten tips for a safer home:

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly

2. Develop a fire escape plan for your family and practice it at least twice a year

3. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking 4. Keep all stairways, paths, and walkways well-lit

4. Install grab bars in the shower stalls and use a non-slip mat inside bathtubs

5. Post emergency numbers near phones (including Poison Control: 1- 800-222-1222)

6. Install child locks on cabinets storing potentially dangerous items

7. Keep the water heater setting at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less

8. Install four-sided fencing with self-locking gates

9. Constantly supervise children in or near water

June is Home Safety Month, which is a great time to for West Virginians to learn how to make their homes safer for their families. Keeping loved ones safe does not necessarily require a lot of time and money; it simply involves taking a hands-on approach to safety, and recognizing the potential dangers in your home.

For additional information and tips to reduce unintentional home injuries and deaths, visit the Home Safety Council's website at www.homesafetycouncil.org.

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