We spend most of our time at home, and home is the safest, most comfortable place we have. Oddly, it’s also a source of accidents that can endanger the whole family — anything can happen there. The two most dangerous areas, the kitchen and the bathroom, can cause injury and death, and the victims are mostly children, the elderly and pets. Burns are a common household event, from contact with fire and hot water. We can never remove every hazard, but we can cut the risk significantly with discipline and vigilance. Samson Tiara shares this to raise awareness of the accidents that can happen at home and the steps you can take to prevent them.
Fire
Fire — which destroys both valuables and lives — is known as the third-biggest killer, household accidents included. We all love to cook, but the kitchen holds dangerous items: hot food, open flames, stoves, matches and gas. Cooking the wrong way can spark a fire. Beyond the kitchen, hair dryers, irons, water heaters, radiators, washing machines and hot water can all cause burns.
- Keep anything that gets hot away from cloth and other flammables, and place hot items so they can’t fall
- Don’t smoke indoors — it can start a fire and poison the air others breathe
- Keep children, the elderly and pets out of the kitchen, especially while someone is cooking
- Keep stoves and gas cylinders out of their reach
- Never leave a pan or stove unattended while cooking or frying — the pan can catch fire and oil can splash and burn skin
- Turn off all stoves and flames when you leave the kitchen, and keep your hands, hair and clothing away from open flames
- Open a window while cooking or grilling (or do it outdoors) so smoke and gas don’t affect your breathing and sight
- Maintain the gas line so it doesn’t leak; if you suspect a leak, open the windows, switch off all gas appliances and call someone who can deal with it
- Clean up cooking waste promptly
- Fit smoke and fire detectors and an extinguisher — especially in the kitchen, bedrooms and storeroom — and check regularly that they work
- Keep a mask at home so smoke doesn’t affect your breathing
- Don’t use water on a pan fire — smother it with a damp cloth
- Have a family fire-escape plan with a route everyone understands, and have the whole family take firefighting training
- Keep first-aid kits to treat burns; if someone is burned, rinse the area with cold water for ten minutes, then cover it with a bandage
Electricity and electric shock
We rely on electricity, but it can harm us — through shock and by causing fires.
- Inspect and repair your wiring and cables regularly, at least once a year, and have a qualified electrician check them
- Throw out old electrical equipment that may be damaged and flammable, and replace damaged items and cables immediately
- Switch the power off before changing a light or anything electrical
- Keep electrical equipment away from the bathroom, and never overload a socket
- Take great care with any heating product, and never run a gas pressure washer indoors or in the garage
- Keep cables and hot items away from children, the elderly and pets
- Switch the power off before bed or when away — electricity left on too long heats up and can fail
Falling objects
Children love to play and never realise their movements can hurt them — running into things, or pulling something down on themselves. Adults aren’t fully safe either; even broken glass can cause serious injury.
- Think carefully about using fragile, breakable items in and around the home, especially with children, the elderly and pets about, and make sure they meet safety standards
- Plan your storage so heavy, bulky items aren’t on high shelves, and keep everyday items easy to reach
- Try not to store things above shoulder height; if you must, use a proper ladder
- Keep play areas and spaces for the elderly free of hazards like hot items, metal, glass, wood and electrical cables
- Have someone you trust watch children and the elderly
- If anyone is injured, apply pressure and antiseptic to the wound
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are a leading cause of injury and death at home, especially for children and the elderly. A fall can cause concussion, fractures and even death, and an elderly person can take a very long time to recover. The best prevention is to look after yourself and others and stay alert to safety for everyone at home.
- Fit safety aids — handrails and non-slip rubber mats — on stairs, in the bathroom and by the bed
- Remove floor and stair hazards like cables and leftover items, and fix damaged floors and stairs
- Keep the elderly from falling out of bed, off chairs, down stairs and off the toilet
- Take care handling and cutting with knives, and store sharp items in a closed, locked place
- Make sure footwear fits, has non-slip soles and suits the activity
- Encourage elderly family members to take up gentle, regular exercise such as Tai Chi or yoga to improve balance, coordination and strength
- Re-check over-the-counter medicines taken by children and the elderly, as some can harm the body unnoticed
- Have eyes tested at least once a year — poor vision can cause you to walk into things and fall
- Provide a stool in the bathroom so the sick and frail can wash while seated
- Always clean and mop up spills — a wet floor makes you slip
- If someone falls, apply cold water or ice to reduce swelling, keep a first-aid kit handy, and keep the details of nearby doctors and hospitals
Cuts
Many sharp objects at home can hurt us — knives, scissors, glass and more. We need them, but they can injure badly.
- Besides sheathing knife blades, take care when using and washing them
- Store sharp items — glass, knives, graters, rakes, saws and lawnmowers — in a tightly closed, locked box, away from children and the elderly
- Wear suitable clothing and sturdy shoes when mowing, and keep your feet and hands away from the blades
- Fit safety measures so shattered glass doesn’t injure your family, and don’t leave children, the elderly or pets near glass
- If glass breaks, cover and sweep the area at once, and vacuum up shards too small to see
Bacteria and poisoning
Household waste can produce bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, and pets can carry bacteria too — dangerous for children, the elderly and pregnant women. Gases from bleach, ammonia and common cleaners can irritate skin and eyes.
- Keep all household equipment clean and in good condition, and check each item before use
- Store tools, paints and chemicals safely, out of reach of children, the elderly and pets — garden and garage chemicals especially
- Keep cosmetics, perfume and essential oils out of children’s reach
- Store cleaning products separately from food and medicine
- Clean carpets, upholstery, wallpaper, wood and food on a regular schedule
- Open doors and windows, especially in higher humidity, to prevent mould
Drowning
There’s a more dangerous consequence of drowning in pools, spas and hot tubs: electric shock — from faulty underwater lights, old wiring, or electrical equipment falling into the water.
- Always check the wiring in and around pools, hot tubs and spas; replace old cables and repair any damage
- Protect lights, sockets and switches so they don’t short out when wet
- Keep pools and hot tubs maintained so no fault endangers users
Computer injuries
Using a computer carries real risks: trips over cables, back and neck injury from working too long, eye strain and headaches, and elbow, hand and wrist injuries causing pain, swelling, stiffness and numbness.
- Place your computer on a large, stable surface, and secure all cables off walkways
- Position the monitor at or slightly below eye level, with your arms level with the keyboard
- Keep the mouse close to the keyboard, and move it with your whole arm rather than just the wrist
- Sit in a chair that supports your spine, and rest your hands at your sides when not typing
- Make sure light shines from above, not into your eyes; if the screen is too bright, tilt the monitor to remove reflections
- Keep the monitor an arm’s length away, adjust contrast and brightness, and take frequent breaks to look at something distant
Train with Samson Tiara
Stay alert to your home and surroundings by gaining the knowledge to protect your family and respond to any incident — knowing how to maintain and use a small fire extinguisher, and how to give first aid to keep a casualty breathing and reduce pain and bleeding until help arrives. Samson Tiara can help with Basic Fire Fighting (BFF) and Basic First Aid & CPR (BFA), plus Workplace Fire Safety (WFS) for office settings and Hand–Arm Vibration Awareness (HAVA-EL) if computer work has hurt your hands. Read more about Basic Fire Fighting, Basic First Aid, Workplace Fire Safety and Hand–Arm Vibration Awareness.
