How Safe is Your Home? Simple Home Safety Test

According to the National Safety Council, there is one death every 16 minutes due to an accident in the home and a serious occurs 4 seconds in the home due to poisonings, suffocation, falls or fire related injuries. It's easy to see the importance of home safety. You may think your home is perfectly safe. After all, you come and go all the time and nothing major has ever happened. If you take a moment to really evaluate the safety of your home, however, you may be surprised at the sources of potential risk. Here's a simple home safety test to get you started.

Kitchen

1. Are pot and pan handles turned inward when on the stove?

Even pot handles that look insulated may still be hot. All pot handles should be turned inwards to avoid getting burnt or accidentally spilling something when passing the stove.

2. Are too many appliances plugged into a single outlet?

Avoid plugging too many appliances into an outlet. You may be able to get six appliances plugged into a single outlet with an extension cord or other device, but outlets are designed to safely handle a certain amount of electricity at a time.

3. If you have small children, do you have safety latches on your drawers and lower cabinets?

Drawers that contain knives and other sharp objects should have a childproof latch to avoid accidents. This includes lower cabinets with cleaning supplies and other potentially dangerous items.

Bathroom

1. Do outlets have ground fault circuit interrupters?

All outlets used in the bathroom should have this type of protection to prevent electrocution if an electrical appliance such as a hairdryer or electric razor gets wet.

2. Are there handles and non-skid mats or strips in the bathtub or shower?

Grip handles and skid mats make the bathtub or shower safer for all family members, especially children, elderly and disabled family members. They can easily be installed and even come in a variety of colors and styles to match your bathroom decor.

3. Are all razors, scissors, medications and cleaners stored in a locked cabinet or kept out of reach of small children?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all medications be stored in either locked cabinets or in childproof containers. Cleaning products for the bathroom should either be stored out of reach or in a locked cabinet. The same goes for personal care items such as scissors and razors and other similar items.

Bedroom

1. Are curtain rods and window blinds with ties or cords secured?

Window blinds or curtain rods with ties or cords should be secured with cord clips or tied off so nothing hangs loose where it can be pulled by small children.

2. Are flat screen TV sets and heavy furniture pieces secured?

While it may be convenient to have smaller, thinner TV sets, they can also be dangerous for all family members. Make sure flat screen TVs are secured. This goes for heavy furniture or similar items that may be tipped over accidentally.

3. Do you have window guards installed on your windows?

If you have small children or pets , window guards should be installed on any windows that are not emergency exits.

General Home Safety

Enhancing the overall safety of your home isn't just beneficial for you and everyone else who lives in your home. Improving the safety of your home can also save you some money on your homeowner's insurance . You may even boost the resell value of your home. Some general ways to increase the safety of your home include:

• Installing smoke detectors on every floor, including carbon monoxide detectors
• Checking for overloaded electrical outlets and extension cords
• Firmly securing furniture with wall brackets if you have young children or elderly family members in your home
• Making sure all major appliances are grounded
• Practicing a family fire escape plan
• Placing all-purpose fire extinguishers in key locations throughout your home
• Unplugging unused appliances
• Getting rid of all unused or outdated medications
• Removing clutter from stairs and steps

Many home safety features don't involve that much effort. Start by taking a tour of your home and make a list of potential safety hazards. You might be surprised at where you can make some safety improvements in your home. You can even make a weekend project out of it and have the whole family participate in the "inspection" and come up with ways to boost the safety of your home.