In the process of planning and preparing for an emergency, it can be easy to overlook simple steps you can take to make your home a little safer. Amidst all the overwhelming supply gathering, take some time to think about habits you and your family can form now to prevent calamities. Here are some tips to help make your house safer.
- Make sure the address of your house is visible from the street. Buy large, decorative letters to put on or near your front door. Make a stencil and paint your curb. Doing this will make it a lot easier for neighbors to call 9-1-1 for an emergency they see at your house, such as a fire or burglary while you’re away. It is also imperative for first responders, such as firemen and policemen.
- Get in the habit of unplugging appliances at night. You don’t have unplug everything electrical in your home, but do unplug toasters, laptops, Scentsys, space heaters, and other small appliances. Doing so will reduce the risk of starting an electrical fire. Make sure appliances in the bathroom, such as hair driers, are safely stored away and out of reach of children.
- Always be careful when smoking. Cigarettes should always be stamped out in ashtrays. Never throw cigarette butts into garbage cans unless you have doused them in water first. Teach children the dangers of lighters and candles. Do not leave the room where a candle is lit.
- Have a fire extinguisher in your house, preferably near the kitchen. Make sure all family members know where the fire extinguisher is and how to use it.
- Check all of your smoke alarms regularly. Make sure batteries are always replaced right away. Keep extra batteries in the house for this purpose. Also install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.
- Install escape ladders in rooms that might need it.
- Put childproof locks on cabinets that contain poisonous cleaners and detergents. Keep medications up high or childproofed as well. Teach children that these are poisonous and should never be touched or played with. Put the number for poison control on your refrigerator.
- Remove plastic bags from the reach of children. Get in the habit of picking up small items, such as buttons or coins. Ensure that all window cords are out of reach as well.
- Teach children not to talk to strangers. If older children are home alone, they should know not to open the door or respond to them. Children answering the phone when parents aren’t at home should learn to say “he is unavailable” or “she is busy right now” instead of “they are not at home.”
- Cover spas and jacuzzis when you are not using them. Install a fence around swimming pools. Make sure bathtubs are drained immediately after each use. Flip large buckets over so they don’t collect water, particularly if kept in the garage or outside. It is possible to drown in only a few inches of water, so do not leave any water unsupervised or accessible to children.
Contributed by Ally G.
A Food Insurance™ Guest Author
