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RESOURCES

Tri-State Home Inspections Resources

Home Safety & Checklist

Home safety is important

Home safety is important for people of all ages. Since most accidents occur at home and many of them are preventable, it is important that your home is as safe as possible. Here are some helpful tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on making your home a safer place for everyone.

To ensure the safety of your family, it is a good idea to periodically review your home for safety hazards, paying special attention to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, potential electrical hazards (including overuse of surge protectors and/or electrical cords), anything that could potentially cause a fire (or impede a hasty exits in the case of fire), and anything that could potentially cause a slip or fall within the home.

The Home Safety Council has an interactive home safety checklist that you can create based on your specific living situation.
 Click Here to get started.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Post emergency phone numbers (police, fire, poison control, a neighbor) near your phone so they are readily available.
  • Be sure to have at least one corded landline (that does not require power to operate) in your house.
  • Have an emergency exit plan and an alternate in place. Be sure all members of your family are familiar with the plan.
  • Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, and change the batteries at least yearly or as recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Check your electrical outlets and switches periodically to see if any are unusually warm to the touch. Unusually warm or hot outlets or switches may indicate that an unsafe wiring condition exists.
  • Where possible, Move appliances closer to wall outlets or to different outlets so you won’t need extension cords.
  • If you have a fireplace, clean your chimney yearly.
  • Equip your bathtubs and showers with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that are not slippery.
  • Lower the setting on your hot water heater to “Low” or 120 degrees.
  • Keep an operating flashlight with extra batteries handy.

OTHER SAFETY RESOURCES FOR SAFETY IN YOUR HOME INCLUDE

  • When using stairs, always grip the handrails. Keep stairs well lighted.
  • Keep floors cleared and slip resistant. Remove loose carpets, cords, and other items you could trip over. Be sure all rugs, mats, and other surfaces are non-skid.
  • Install grab bars and slip-resistant surfaces in your bathroom.
  • Use only stable step stools with a top handrail. Don’t climb alone – have someone nearby to help you.
  • Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying down position.
  • Be sure your telephones and emergency numbers are easily accessible – so you can get help if you fall.
  • Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on every floor of your home.
  • Install a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm outside every sleeping area.
  • Don’t smoke in bed.
  • Keep space heaters away from flammable materials. Hire a professional to check all fuel-burning appliances, including fireplaces, every year.
  • Don’t wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves near ranges or ovens. Store combustibles away from these and all heat-producing appliances.
  • Practice an emergency fire escape plan.

The USCPSC cites the top 5 hidden home safety hazards:

  • Magnets
  • Recalled Products
  • Tip-overs
  • Windows & Coverings
  • Pool & Spa Drains

Read More…

Here are some additional resources on home safety:

Copyright and usage policy: This document is NOT in the public domain. It may be reproduced with permission as long as the original copyright and sources are retained.

HOME SAFETY CHECKLIST

Source: Home Safety Council

Remember, Home Safety isn’t just for Seniors!

Each year, many adults and children are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 1981, over 622,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday. CPSC believes that many of these injuries result from hazards that are easy to overlook, but also easy to fix. By spotting these hazards and taking some simple steps to correct them, many injuries might be prevented.

MedicineNet provides an excellent home safety checklist which you can use to improve the safety of your home. Use this checklist to spot possible safety problems which may be present in your home. Keep this checklist as a reminder of safe practices, and use it periodically to re-check your home.

Click Here To Visit MedicineNet

  • In all areas of your home, check the following items for potential safety issues:

    • electrical cords
    • telephone cords
    • extension cords
    • rugs, runners and mats
    • smoke detectors
    • electrical outlets and switches
    • light bulbs
    • space heaters
    • woodburning stoves and chimneys
    • telephones
    • exits (emergency exit plan)
    • fire extinguishers
    • proper ventilation in cooking areas

In addition to checking the items above, consider the following safety related questions.

  1. Are emergency numbers posted on or near the telephone?
  2. Are any outlets and switches unusually warm or hot to the touch?
  3. Do you have an emergency exit plan and an alternate emergency exit plan in case of a fire?
  4. Has the chimney been cleaned within the past year?
  5. Are exits and passageways kept clear and well lit?
  6. Are bathtubs and showers equipped with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that are not slippery?
  7. Are small electrical appliances such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, etc., unplugged when not in use?
  8. Are all medicines stored in the containers that they came in and are they clearly marked?
  9. Are ash trays, smoking materials, or other fire sources (heaters, hot plates, teapots, etc.) located away from beds or bedding?
  10. Is anything covering your electric blanket when in use?
  11. Do you ever go to sleep with a heating pad which is turned on?
  12. Is there a telephone close to your bed?
  13. Can you turn on the lights without first having to walk through a dark area?
  14. Regarding your fuse box or circuit breakers: if fuses are used, are they the correct size for the circuit?
  15. Has the grounding feature on any 3-prong plug been defeated by removal of the grounding pin or by improperly using an adapter?
  16. CHECK FLAMMABLE AND VOLATILE LIQUIDS: are containers of volatile liquids tightly capped?
  17. Are gasoline, paints, solvents, or other products that give off vapors or fumes stored away from ignition sources?

For more information on consumer safety, please visit the Home Safety Council

Electrical Safety Checklist

Backyard Safety Checklist

Water Safety Checklist

Poison Prevention Checklist

Child Safety Tips

Childproofing Your Home

Copyright and usage policy: This document is in the public domain. It may be reproduced with or without change in part or whole by an individual or organization without permission. User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License and must be attributed to source if republished.

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