There is so much to think about for someone who is doing their best to protect their family. As a mother of three boys, I know this all too well. Luckily there are a lot of observances during the year that remind us to take time out from our busy lives and think about safety. Home Safety Month is in June each year. Parents especially should take a look at our list of top 5 hidden dangers in the home, and our solutions to some of these hazards.
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer for good reason. Odourless and invisible, carbon monoxide causes more accidental poisonings than anything else. This gas can be produced in many ways, from a car running in a garage seeping into the home, to fireplaces, and also appliances that are malfunctioning.
A carbon monoxide alarm is the only way for you to protect your family from poisoning. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. Your local fire department should be consulted so you can find out what the state laws are for where to place the detectors. Your home appliances should all be inspected on a regular basis.
Fire extinguishers are essential. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Most people don't consider that cracks in the foundation to be dangerous but they can be. If you're like many homeowners, you're probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Even if you don't have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints.
It's invisible and has no scent, but it can be tested for with a kit that can be purchased.
The speed that fires can spread in the home is very fast, and most people aren't aware of this. From the time a smoke alarm sounds, your family can have as little as two minutes to escape safely before the fire spreads throughout your home. Your ability to escape from a home fire depends on advance warning from a smoke alarm but, also, from advance planning with an escape plan. Surprisingly, a recent survey showed that the fire escape strategy is only practiced by 29 percent of families.
The chance of burglary is actually overlooked in many households. Many of us believe that it's not something we need to consider, but the sad truth is that every 14 seconds there is a break-in somewhere. Here are a few simple steps to take to prevent break-ins to your home: have heavy-duty deadbolt locks installed on solid core entry doors; entries that are well-lit; metal grates should be installed on the windows in the basement; if there are bushes in the yard, keep them trimmed neatly so they can't be utilized by thieves to hide in. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer for good reason. Odourless and invisible, carbon monoxide causes more accidental poisonings than anything else. This gas can be produced in many ways, from a car running in a garage seeping into the home, to fireplaces, and also appliances that are malfunctioning.
A carbon monoxide alarm is the only way for you to protect your family from poisoning. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. Your local fire department should be consulted so you can find out what the state laws are for where to place the detectors. Your home appliances should all be inspected on a regular basis.
Fire extinguishers are essential. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Most people don't consider that cracks in the foundation to be dangerous but they can be. If you're like many homeowners, you're probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Even if you don't have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints.
It's invisible and has no scent, but it can be tested for with a kit that can be purchased.
The speed that fires can spread in the home is very fast, and most people aren't aware of this. From the time a smoke alarm sounds, your family can have as little as two minutes to escape safely before the fire spreads throughout your home. Your ability to escape from a home fire depends on advance warning from a smoke alarm but, also, from advance planning with an escape plan. Surprisingly, a recent survey showed that the fire escape strategy is only practiced by 29 percent of families.
The chance of burglary is actually overlooked in many households. Many of us believe that it's not something we need to consider, but the sad truth is that every 14 seconds there is a break-in somewhere. Here are a few simple steps to take to prevent break-ins to your home: have heavy-duty deadbolt locks installed on solid core entry doors; entries that are well-lit; metal grates should be installed on the windows in the basement; if there are bushes in the yard, keep them trimmed neatly so they can't be utilized by thieves to hide in. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
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