Safety begins at home by taking preventative measures such as periodic inspections and keeping fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and first aid kits well-stocked. Common hazards include electrical issues, fire risks, poisoning risks, and improper tool use. Minor injuries like cuts, sprains, burns and concussions can often be treated at home with first aid techniques like cleaning wounds, applying ice, and getting rest. However, more serious injuries may require immediate medical attention by calling emergency services. Being prepared makes the home a safer environment.

1. Safety Begins
at Home
An ounce of prevention helps home accidents…
Do things have a way of accumulating? Because you are there every day, potential hazards can be
overlooked easily. Periodic “proactive” inspections can help you avoid accidents and ensure the
health and safety of you and your loved ones. Here are things to watch for:
Fight fire before it happens.
Whether you are at home or away, fire is always a potential hazard. By the time firefighters
arrive, it may be too late – but you can take the following precautions:
• Keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, garage and patio.
• Only use space heaters with automatic shut offs and never operate them without
someone in the room.
• Install smoke/ carbon monoxide detector in all areas. Smoke detectors provide early
warning and are your first line of defense. Test them and change batteries regularly. A
good way to remember is with spring and autumn time changes.
Be prepared for the unexpected It’s
never too soon to provide the Safest
home environment for you and you
family. Take the time to double Check electrical circuits.
check smoke and carbon monoxide When was the last time you checked your
detectors, replenish emergency kits, electrical appliances? Be sure to do the
look for unsafe conditions and following:
formulate evacuation plans if you • Check for worn or exposed wiring?
haven’t already done so. And above (particularly on lamps) and overloaded
all else, prevent accidents before circuits.
they happen. • Plug computers and televisions into surge
protectors.
• Familiarize yourself with the fuse box and
Put poison in their place.
The most prevalent cause of accident death at home is inadvertent poisoning. You can avoid
this by keeping products sealed and out of easy reach from children. Always keep products in
their original packaging for quick access to warning and instructions and discard any
expired medications.
Consult your physician or pharmacies for assistance with the following:
Household cleaners and office supplies Medications, vitamins and cooking ingredients
Garage and garden chemicals
Take nothing for granted. Children
and pets are naturally curious. What Take your time with tools.
makes common sense to you does not Don’t rush household chores – tools can fight
to them. Keep potential hazard out of back. Most tools and utensils have sharp edges,
reach and safe guard against the particularly knives. Learning how to use them
unexpected – a dog can chew through a
properly can be a valuable safety lesson. Here are
lamp cord an a child may eat a colorful
few reminders:
crayon. Keep child – and pet – specific
products with your first aid kit. • Cut or stroke away from your body, not toward.
• If you drop a knife or tool, don’t try to catch it.
• Don’t use tools on live electrical items – unplug
them.
• Always use tools in a well-lit area.
• If you get cut or injured, seek first aid
immediately

2. in
Safety the Home
CUTS & SCRATCHES SPRAINS MINOR BURNS FRACTURES CONCUSSIONS
Minor: Stop the bleeding Use the acronym RICE to To care for a minor burn, Stabilize the bone Apply ice to the contact
by applying direct treat a sprain: first put out flames or immediately to relieve area to reduce swelling.
pressure to the wound remove person from the pain and prevent further Mild concussions may be
Rest: Avoid movement of
with a bandage. Clean the source of heat. damage. treated at home with bed
the injured area.
cut with gentle soap and rest, fluids and a mild pain
water to reduce risk of Immobilize: Splint arm or Cool the burn immediately Use a newspaper as a reliever. A doctor should
infection. Apply antibiotic leg if person must be by submerging the area in temporary makeshift be contracted to assess
ointment and a clean moved and doing so will cold water: do not use ice. splint or a large towed as a severity.
bandage to allow cut to not cause more harm. Cover the burn loosely sling. Avoid applying ice
properly heal. with a sterile dressing and directly to the skin and Often concussions are not
Cold: Apply ice to injured avoid using ointment contact emergency obvious at first, but it is
Major: If the bleeding area for 20-minute periods initially. service. best to be safe and seek
does not stop, apply to control pain and medical treatment to
additional dressing and swelling. Place a thin Having as air cast in your ensure that there are no
bandages with more barrier between ice and For a serious injury, emergency kit can also be lasting ill effects.
pressure bare skin Call 9-1-1 vary useful.
Elevate: elevate the Call 9-1-1 if the person is
For a serious injury In case of leg fractures,
injured area or leg only if unconscious. If consious,
Call 9-1-1
it does not cause more the patient’s legs can both watch the person in case
pain. be tied together. Do not he or she lapses into
try to straighten the unconsciousness.
For a serious injury: broken limb or move
Call 9-1-1 without support.
Things you should Have
Two pairs of Latex or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to
Latex) Online Resources
Sterile dressing to stop bleeding
Cleansing agent/ stop and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect
WebMD
Check off Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
www.webmd.com
what you Burn ointment to prevent infection
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Has detailed information
have and about any injury you may
Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general
immediately decontaminate sustain at home and features
get what Thermometer, non-glass and non-mercury advise for how to treat them.
you need. Prescription medications you take everyday such as insulin,
heart medicine and asthma inhalers Wikipedia
Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure www.wikipedia.org
monitoring equipment and supplies Encyclopedia with straight-
Scissors forward content that makes
Tweezers finding those important
Aspirin or non-asprin pain reliver articles effortless