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Our home is that special place where we can be with our families and get “away” from the world. We all want to keep our family safe, not only from intruders….but also from accidental or environmental dangers. There are many ways to improve home safety...so here are just a few home safety tips to consider in improving your family's home safety:
Safe from Intruders:
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Make sure you have “bump” free locks on your doors. Don’t let someone just walk into your home as if they had their own key! It pays to do the research on this situation because it's so easy to do and anyone can learn about it on the internet. There are a couple of locks on the market that gives protection from this ever-increasing problem.
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Make sure all exterior doors are hinged from the inside.
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If you have sliding doors, be sure you place a bar on the inside track.
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Are your window locks operable?
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Do your security lights illuminate doorways, driveways and windows?
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Always be careful about who you tell about any travel plans?
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Prune landscaping plants so intruders can’t use them for cover.
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Have good neighbors who will help keep an eye on your home and notice anything that is out of the ordinary.
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It’s always a good idea to walk around your property and look for easy entrance points for an intruder.
Keep Your Home Accident Proof:
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, children are more likely to die or be severely injured from window-related falls than falls associated with any other product. They suggest the following precautions:
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Be aware that conventional window screens are not designed to prevent a child’s fall from a window.
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Install specially designed window guards on upper windows to prevent children from falling out of windows – but make sure they have a quick release mechanism so they can be easily opened by an adult in case of a fire emergency.
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Don’t place furniture under the windows.
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Never leave young children unattended near open windows.
The CPSC also reports that more than 170 strangulation deaths caused by window coverings have occurred since 1991. Most were children under three years old. Be sure to always:
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Inspect your window coverings for inner and outer cord loops in blinds that could pose a danger to children.
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Position cribs, playpens and beds away from windows and out of the reach of all window cords, including drapery pull cords.
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Tie cords up and out of a child’s reach.
What about poison prevention?
Keep your home safe from poisonous and toxic products. Consider these guidelines:
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Install child locks on cabinets that contain any harmful products.
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Clean spills of anti-freeze and automobile oil immediately. They are extremely harmful to children and pets.
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Make sure all prescriptions and drugs are kept in locked cabinets.
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Store food and non-food products separately in case of leaks and spills.
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Never mix household products because their contents could react together with dangerous results.
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Post the poison control hotline next to your telephones. 1-800-222-1222
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To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, have your heating unit inspected annually and install a UL-listed CO alarm near every sleeping area.
Kitchen and Bathroom Safety
Our kitchens and bathrooms have the right combination for disaster…..Water, electrical appliances and medications. Constant adult supervision around water and immediate cleaning of slick surfaces should be common practice in your home. It is a good idea to study home appliance safety training to avoid accidents in your home. Many times, just reading the safety precautions on the labels will help save a life. Home fire safety is critical in the kitchen. A few reminders to avoid home injuries:
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Always stay in the kitchen while cooking
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Keep things that can burn, such as paper towels, plastic bags, dishtowels and curtains away from the range top.
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Turn pot handles inward to prevent small children from reaching and pulling down a hot pan.
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Make sure your kitchen and bathrooms have GFCI electrical plugs.
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Store knives and other sharp objects out of the reach of children.
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Remember that food cooked in a microwave can be extremely hot.
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Post emergency numbers by the phone.
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Use non-slip mats of adhesive safety strips in bathtubs and showers.
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Use non-skid rugs
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Use night-lights to illuminate hallways and bathrooms during the night.
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Always stay with young children during bath time…and never allow older children to supervise them.
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Keep your water heater set to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns.
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Never touch an electrical appliance while you’re bathing.
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Always keep hair dryers, curling irons and electric razors un-plugged and away from water.
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Use doorknob covers to prevent young children from accessing rooms that could pose a danger.
Don't Forget Home Fire Safety
Do you have enough smoke alarms? Are the batteries fresh? They can save the lives of everyone in your family! Walk through your home for a quick check and consider the following reminders....and keep home safety in your top of mind awareness:
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Make sure there is a smoke alarm near every sleeping area. They should be mounted high on walls or ceilings because smoke rises.
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Install new batteries once a year.
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Replace your smoke alarms if they are more than 10 years old.
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Never use worn, frayed or damaged electrical cords.
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Always use the appropriate light bulb wattage for the size of the fixture.
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Keep electrical cords out of traffic areas and never place cords under rugs or carpets, which can cause overheating.
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Never attach extension cords to baseboards of walls with nails or staples.
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Never leave the faceplates off outlets or switches.
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Outdoor outlets should have waterproof covers.
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NEVER leave a gasoline can inside a room or garage where’s there is a water heater with a pilot light burning.
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Make sure space heaters are at least 3 feet from anything that can burn….and turn them off when the room is not in use – or at night.
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Use kerosene very carefully.
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Never burn trash, cardboard boxes or Christmas trees in the fireplace. These items burn unevenly and can cause fires.
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When grilling outside, always position your grill at least 3 feet away from the house or any shrubs or landscape plants.
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Use only a fire starter made for barbecue grills.
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Never bring a grill indoors or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide hazard.
We hope you take these home safety tips seriously. We can't emphasize enough the importance of home safety.
As always, contact us with any questions you might have. We're looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Remember - You've got a friend in Nashville! We're Buyers Agents - specializing in helping homebuyers find and purchase their new home.
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