danger

20+ Things You Need in Your House to Keep Your Family Safe

Ashley Marcin — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:00:36 +0000

Is your home safe? Even if you don't have small kids roving around, it's a good idea to assess safety on the regular, and make sure that every room is prepared for the worst. With that in mind, here's a handy list you can use to examine some of the top concerns in each room of your house. (See also: 15 Cheap, Easy Ways to Make Your Home Safer)

1. Kitchen

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), cooking equipment is the cause of 40% of residential fires each year. Always keep a working smoke detector in your kitchen to alert you of fire. You can even purchase one with a photoelectric sensor that helps to reduce nuisance alarms.

You'll also want a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Never used one before? It's easy. Simply remember the acronym PASS:

Pull out the safety pin;
Aim at the source of the flames from around six feet away;
Squeeze the trigger; and
Sweep the source of the fire until your extinguisher is empty.

2. Living Room

Think there's nothing unsafe about your living room? Well if you're a television-lover, you're likely staring at the problem right now. The journal Pediatrics reports that falling TVs send children to the emergency room every half hour. And prevention is as easy as mounting your television to the wall or securing it with a brace or anti-tip strap.

Beyond that, you'll want to cover unused outlets to make them safe for tiny fingers. If you regularly need to use outlets and don't want to fuss with removable covers, try installing electrical plate covers. These guys work by automatically sliding shut when you remove a plug. You should install outlet covers in each room of your house.

3. Office

Your office might host the vast majority of your plugs and electrical equipment. You likely have a power strip in the space — but is it safe? Remember that a power strip doesn't give the room more power, it just lets you use more of the available circuit. If you rely heavily on power strips, you might consider calling an electrician to install additional outlets in the room.

Switch basic cords over to surge protectors to protect your computers, printers, and other stuff against peaks in power from turning things on/off or even large surges from lightning. While you're at it, check all power cords for damage (if you have cats, you know exactly what I mean). You can use a split wire loom to inexpensively guard your wires against bites and other damage.

4. Bathroom

To protect yourself and young children from scalding water in the bathroom, you'll need to take a trip to the basement (or wherever your water heater lives). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends turning the setting down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. It's as easy and turning a dial.

Otherwise, keep any electrical items — like hairdryers, shavers, curling irons, etc. — away from water and unplugged when not in use. Place an anti-slip bath mat inside your tub to safeguard the whole family against falls. You may even want to install a bath shower handle for extra protection and stability.

And keep mold at bay by putting in a bathroom fan.

5. Bedroom

The United States Fire Administration reports that more than 3,500 Americans die each year in residential fires. Another 18,300 are injured in fires. While you should have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor, make sure you pay special attention to placing them near bedrooms. And check their batteries often.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) explains that fire can spread rapidly in your home. You may have as little as one or two minutes to escape in an emergency. Consider purchasing a fire escape ladder to keep in your bedroom and plan your escape routes accordingly.

The bedroom area also contains large dressers and other pieces of furniture. Protect little ones by installing anti-tip brackets. They're detachable to make cleaning a breeze but secure furniture firmly against a wall. To understand the real need for brackets, check out this PSA video made by the CPSC.

6. Basement

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers across the United States. Did you know that most radon-induced lung cancers result from only low to medium exposure in the home, usually in the basement? Your house may have been tested before you bought it. If not, hire an inspector and — if your levels are high — have a radon mitigation system installed.

It might cost you a couple grand, but it's worth every penny if it saves your health.

7. Stairway

Researchers estimate that a child falls down the stairs every six minutes in the United States. Whether you have kids or animals running around your home, a stairway gate is an excellent way to keep them safe. They come in a wide variety of shapes, materials, and colors to match your preferences and decor.

8. Garage

Car exhaust is a major source of carbon monoxide, so never run your car inside your garage — especially if the door is closed. You might have several flammable materials sitting around too. The fire safety rules you use indoors apply to the garage as well. Keep fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in this area, and follow all other precautions.

And now is a great time to ensure your safety sensors are working on your garage door. If not, you can purchase replacements or chat with the company that installed your door.

9. Outdoors

Examine your deck each season to check for loose railings, rotting wood, and other defects. A mesh railnet can help prevent railing and balcony accidents by blocking access to any gaps your kids or animals might find. Those of you with multileveled decks and staircases can also install outdoor safety gates.

If you have a pool, you may be familiar with safety measures to prevent drowning while you're swimming. What about when you're not going for a dip? The CDC estimates that more than half of the drowning deaths among young kids could have been prevented by simple pool fencing. Keep your pool off limits when not in use. Fencing should be at least four feet tall to be the most effective.

What essential safety steps have you take in your home?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Beware These 16 Holiday Hazards

Mikey Rox — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:00:07 +0000

There are plenty of delightful things to love about the holidays — the people, the parties, the presents! — but there are also a few dangers that can turn a celebration sour in a flash. Keep your wits about you and your limbs intact by avoiding these common holiday hazards.

1. Christmas Tree Mold

If you think Clark Griswold had a problem on his hands with a stowaway squirrel, you haven't yet encountered the dreaded Christmas tree mold. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it's a real threat this time of year that can spark a potentially severe attack in allergy sufferers.

Just how does the mold get in the tree?

"Mold loves moisture, so when you put the water in the tree it's a great place for mold to grow," says allergist Dr. Weilly Soong. "So it releases mold spores and people become allergic." Chemicals sprayed on the tree also can trigger allergy symptoms that often are brushed off as a common cold. To reduce the probability of a reaction to tree mold, spray the tree with water and let it dry outside before bringing it into the house.

Potential Poisons and Other Pet-Related Hazards

It's not only our own backs we have to watch around the holidays; our pets also can fall prey to household hazards that could prove deadly. Trupanion's Holiday Tips for Dogs & Cats puts pet safety first, so you and your furbabies can have all the safe fun that comes with the season.

2. Beware of Poisonous Plants

Holly, mistletoe, and certain lilies look festive but can be dangerous if ingested. Cover the water for the tree and other plants and make sure your pets always have plenty of water. This will keep them from getting thirsty enough to share a drink with plants that could make them sick.

3. Decorating Dos

Keep tinsel, ribbon, and ornaments out of pets' reach, as they often prove too tempting for curious pets to avoid but can result in costly vet visits when chewed or swallowed. Christmas light cords can also be tempting to an avid chewer or new puppy.

4. De-Ice Those Paws

Remove any snow, salt, or de-icing chemicals from pets' paws right away after being outside in the cold. Frostbitten skin, which will appear red or gray, should be warmed with a moist, warm towel until the skin returns to its regular color.

5. Festive Feasts

No matter how much they beg, avoid giving your pets table food — many holiday treats can lead to a stomach ache and a swallowed turkey bone could be life-threatening. Many ingredients commonly used in holiday meals — like chocolate, onions, and garlic — can be toxic for your pets.

6. Injuries While Hanging Lights and Decorations

For the first time ever as an adult I decorated the outside of my home for Christmas. I managed to hang lights from the second story of my house without slamming onto the frozen tundra 20 feet below. I'm pretty proud of myself. And statistically speaking, I should be, because according to the CDC, an estimated 17,465 people are treated for fall-related injuries around the holidays. I'm pleased that I'm not a statistic. You can avoid being one too with this video tutorial from Lowe's featuring helpful light-hanging tips.

7. Frying Frozen Turkeys

The most important rule to remember when deep-frying a turkey for your holiday meal is that it should never be placed in that huge tub of boiling oil while frozen. Unless, of course, you want to spend Christmas in a burn unit followed by a homeless shelter. Let this video from Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services serve as a forewarning to all those who want to tempt fate. Instead, follow these safe and smart tips from The Art of Manliness that take you through the deep-frying process from start to finish in one 15-minute video.

8. Bodily Burns From Cooking and Baking

While turkey frying has the potential to cause major damage if not done properly, it's not as common a hazard as ordinary burns from regular holiday baking and cooking. It's not that difficult to singe a few fingers making that huge holiday meal, especially when all burners and the oven are on at the same time. Also, keep in mind that children like to help out in the kitchen — especially when you're making sweet treats — so it's important to ensure that everybody is educated about fire safety and burn prevention.

9. Damage to Your Teeth

While we're busy trying not to kill our pets or burn the house to the ground, we're overlooking a potentially costly — and painful — oral holiday hazard. "People tend to use their teeth to open presents, bottles, and chew on candy and other potential hazards that lead patients to our office for fixing," says Dr. Mark Helm of Helm, Nejad, Stanley Dentistry of Beverly Hills. So he offers a survival guide of sorts to help you keep your pearly whites firmly planted in your face.

Rinse With Water Immediately After Meals or Sweets

It's recommended to wait 30 minutes after eating or indulging in sweets to brush and floss, allowing your mouth to return to its normal pH balance, but we understand that waiting this long after a meal (especially for little ones) is not always realistic. By simply swishing water in your mouth for about 30 seconds after sweets, you can prevent a significant amount of tartar and plaque from taking hold and help your mouth return to normal pH faster.

Don't Forget to Brush and Floss

During the holiday season we're busy spending time with loved ones and traveling, which can make it very easy to forget to maintain our regular brushing and flossing habits. If you find yourself in a situation where you can't brush and floss, don't panic. Simply rinse with water. This doesn't replace brushing and flossing, but it's better than nothing. It's also wise to invest in a to-go toothbrush or designate a pack of floss for on-the-go activities.

Treat Your Teeth to Something Nice

In keeping with the giving spirit of the holidays, why neglect your teeth? Buy yourself or a loved one a new toothbrush. Treat yourselves to some delicious xylitol-flavored gum or candies. Your teeth have been working hard and they deserve it. While you're at it, visit your hygienist and get a teeth cleaning or ask your dentist about whitening options to make all your friends and family jealous of your sparkling smile.

Use Appropriate Tools

With all of the presents, packages, and bottles to be opened, and nuts to be cracked, it can be tempting to use our teeth to take care of these tasks. Do yourself and your dentist a huge favor by using appropriate tools instead of using your teeth for these tasks. It will save you plenty of pain, money, and time spent at the dentist during the holidays that you can otherwise spend feasting.

Just Say No

Candy canes, caramel, sticky sweets, and other hard candies are some of the most common (and tasty) holiday treats that cause the most damage, and they're best avoided. Do your best to limit your intake of these sweets, and if you do decide to enjoy a candy cane or two don't chew on them.

10. Back Strain From Moving Boxes/Bins In and Out of Storage

Organizing specialist Jamie Novak advises us to avoid back injuries from lugging heavy tubs and containers of decorations in and out of storage areas and up and down flights of stairs. "I suggest storing decorations in smaller tubs, grouping the items you use for one area — like a single bookcase or tabletop — in one bin so you can bring out what you need without hurting yourself," she says. If you're already prone to back problems, ask someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. Doing it yourself isn't worth being laid up for the holidays, unable to enjoy the festivities.

11. Cuts From Clamshell Packaging

One of the most frustrating parts of gift packaging are those annoying hard plastic cases that seem like they've been welded together for the sole purpose of making you curse the day Santa slid down your chimney. And if you're not careful, you could have a bloody mess on your hands. To open these types of packages Novak says, "Always have a clamshell [package] opener at the ready. I keep mine in a decorative box under the tree, so I know just where it is. I also keep one of those tiny screwdrivers in the box so I can open battery compartments easily."

You hear that folks? Put a clamshell package opener on your Christmas list this year — if only to enjoy the look of what-the-heck-is-that bewilderment from whoever reads it.

12. Unattended Candles

Candles help create a cozy ambience around the holidays, but such beauty can quickly turn into a blaze if the candles are left unattended. The National Candle Association (yeah, I had no idea either) takes safety seriously as detailed in this comprehensive list of candle safety rules.

13. Overloading Power Strips and Outlets

Once you've strung up all your lights, you'll need to plug them in so the astronauts can see them from space. That is your goal, isn't it? While it's perfectly okay to pursue that passion, it's not a good idea to overload your electrical outlets so NASA can pinpoint the big ball of fire that has suddenly appeared on your block. Right where your house used to be. Howstuffworks details some electrical-outlet limits in this educational and perhaps life-saving post.

14. Letting the Tree Dry Out

What happens when you put bone-dry greenery next to a potential fire hazard? It could go up in flames. Be a responsible tree owner by keeping the stand filled with water while also minimizing the risk of fire by practicing the safety tips detailed earlier in this post.

15. Choking Hazards for Children

Be mindful of the gifts you're giving children this time of year and make sure that they're age-appropriate. Paramedic Jeff Meyers at Grand Rapids Healthcare Training offers this helpful tip to help you decide what items could mean trouble: "If the object is small enough to fit in a toilet paper roll, it's too small."

16. Foodborne Illness

Dr. Michael Kaplan, national medical director for NextCare, warns about a hidden danger that can affect any family at holiday time.

"Foodborne illnesses — such as Salmonella and E.coli — that primarily consist of vomiting and/or diarrhea can lead to dehydration if a person loses more body fluids and salts (electrolytes) than they take in," he says. "In addition to water, drinking oral rehydration solutions such as Ceralyte, Pedialyte, or Oralyte is recommended to replace the fluid losses and prevent dehydration. Sports drinks such as Gatorade do not replace the losses correctly and should not be used as treatment. Bismuth subsalicylate (i.e. Pepto-Bismol) can reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea, as well. (NextCare can also help to treat gastrointestinal illnesses such as foodborne illness)."

Do you have other holiday hazards that we should avoid? Please warn us about them in comments!

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The 5 Most Dangerous Things Hiding in Your Home Right Now

Brittany Lyte — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:00:09 +0000

Our homes are full of potentials for danger — lit candles left unattended, poisonous cleaning agents, hot stove burners. But there are a number of less-conspicuous danger-prone items in the home that all too often fly under the radar — and for that reason they are doubly dangerous. (See also: 10 Surprisingly Dangerous Things You Have in Your Home)

Read on for our roundup of the most unsuspecting hazards lurking in the modern household. Then act accordingly and make your sanctuary a safer place.

1. Long-Forgotten Prescription Pills

About 80% of the 40,000 annual drug overdose deaths in America are unintentional. More than half those overdoses are caused by pharmaceuticals, primarily prescription painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin, Xanax, and Valium. The scary part is this: Since 1995 there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of prescriptions doctors are writing for painkillers. That means there are more of these pills piling up in our medicine cabinets now than ever before. It used to be that we'd grab an aspirin for relief from our daily aches and pains. Now we have a whole array of choices at our fingertips that are far more potent, making the potential for an accidental overdose greater than ever.

2. Your Dog

Every year 2% of Americans suffer from a dog bite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it's the dog owners themselves who are at highest risk of being bitten. The CDC reports that adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs at home. That's because most people are bitten by dogs they own or know. Even the smallest, sweetest of canines can bite viciously if provoked. And while dog bites are rarely fatal, they can cause a range of other unpleasantries such as disease, infection, and deformities.

3. Loose Rugs

More than half of all falls happen in the home, and it's these at-home spills that hold the title as the leading cause of unintentional injury among adults 65 and older. One of the major causes of these tumbles is loose, unsecured rugs and damaged carpets with curled edges. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control reports that an estimated 38,000 adults ages 65 and older are treated in emergency rooms each year for falls associated with rugs and carpets. Among the potential injuries: broken bones, head trauma, and, on rare occasion, even death.

4. Extension Cords

The power strips that help us stay powered-up and plugged-in cause about 3,300 residential fires annually, Electrical Safety Foundation International reports. About 10% of those fires result in death. Overcrowding or overuse of an extension cord can cause the insulation to deteriorate, creating a shock and fire hazard. To prevent an extension cord inferno, safety experts recommend limiting the number of devices you plug in to the strip and replacing it every few years.

5. Space Heaters

Space heaters are a tempting home heating option for homeowners and renters on a budget. They're an increasingly dangerous option, too. More than 25,000 house fires are sparked by malfunctioning space heaters every year, leading to 300 deaths and 6,000 emergency room visits for burns. If you're going to use one, be sure to keep it at least 30 inches from any flammable items or surfaces.

Any hidden household dangers we've overlooked? Please warn us in comments!

Like this article? Pin it!

This article is from Brittany Lyte of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: