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How to Prevent Household Injuries in Santa Claus and Petersburg

Did you know that about a third of all injuries happen in the home, with falls, burns, drowning, choking and suffocation, poisoning, and knife cuts being chief among them? In fact, according to the Home Safety Council, falls are the number one cause of home injuries and death. And the most likely victims tend to be children between the ages of 2 and 5 and adults 70 years old or older.

Fortunately, most household injuries can be prevented with a little time and forethought. So help keep your family safe and sound by following these important tips.

In the Bathroom

• Prevent slips and falls in the bathtub and shower by installing grab bars, laying down anti-slip bath stickers, and putting down non-slip bath mats. Keep bathroom floors dry at all times.
• Help prevent burns and scalds by keeping your hot water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Never leave young children unattended during bath time.
• Install cabinet locks and keep all medications and cleaning supplies out of reach of children.

In the Kitchen

• Wipe up food and liquid spills immediately.
• If you have young children in the house, avoid keeping household cleaning products or other chemicals in lower cabinets, unless you use cabinet locks.
• While cooking, keep pot and pan handles turned to the side.
• Never leave cooking food unattended, and use a timer to remind you to check on food in the oven.

All Over the House

• Use night lights to light hallways and stairs for anyone who might wake during the night.
• Keep high traffic floor areas free of toys and clutter.
• Use a cord organizer to prevent cords from bundling and keep them away from foot traffic.
• Install a stair runner or anti-slip strips on your wooden stairs.
• Repair loose hand rails and floor boards immediately
• And make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.

It’s not a magic wand that keeps family members sense, just good ol’ common sense with a little diligence thrown in for good measure. At the same time, sometimes you need professional assistance to help protect family members from harm, and we can provide just that with our whole-house plumbing inspection service. Water pressure is just one of the many things we look at to help make sure it’s not so great that a pipe can suddenly burst. We also inspect your water heater for potential gas or carbon monoxide leaks, and much more. If it’s been a year or more since you had all your plumbing inspected, contact Messmer Mechanical today, and we’ll join you in helping to protect family members of every age.