KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – HOME SAFETY
Falls are the leading cause of home injuries in the United States. Adults over age 65 and children under 5 are especially vulnerable to falls. Older adults experience 1.5 million nonfatal injuries each year, while falls are the leading cause of nonfatal home injury for children up to the age of 14.
The Home Safety Council offers these tips to make your home safer.
- Banisters or handrails along stairwells should extend the full length of the stairs.
- Make sure porches, hallways and stairwells are well-lit.
- Use nightlights to illuminate hallways, stairwells and bathrooms at night.
- Keep stairs, landings and floors free of clutter.
- Tuck electronic wires out of the way. There are products made especially for this.
- Use child safety gates at the bottom and top of stairs.
- Install safety bars in the tub and shower.
- Use a slip free mat in the bathtub.
- All small rugs should have a non-skid bottom, better yet secure with double sided rug tape.
Be safe!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
