Potential Household Danger Spots (and Solutions for Each)
In a home, safety is paramount, especially for families with young children or older members. Here's a guide to common home safety hazards and measures to prevent accidents.
Hazards for Young Children
Tripping and Falling Hazards
- Secure loose rugs and mats to the floor with tape.
- Keep floors clear of toys and obstacles.
- Secure heavy furniture and TVs to walls.
- Use baby gates until children can use stairs safely.
Choking Hazards
- Ensure toys and objects are safe for the child's age and keep small items out of reach.
- Keep cords and strings (e.g., curtains, blinds) out of reach.
Electrical and Chemical Hazards
- Install covers on electrical outlets.
- Secure cabinets containing chemicals or medications.
Bathroom Hazards
- Use non-slip mats in bathrooms.
- Set the water heater to a safe temperature.
Hazards for Older Adults
Falling Hazards
- Remove or secure area rugs and declutter walkways.
- Improve lighting, especially in hallways and bathrooms.
- Install extra handrails in hallways and grab bars in strategic locations.
Slipping Hazards
- Clean spills immediately.
- Use non-slip mats and ensure the floor is dry.
Accessibility
- Consider moving living spaces to the first floor if possible.
- Ensure pathways are clear and well-lit.
Additional General Safety Measures
Fire Safety
- Install smoke detectors on every level of the home and in bedrooms.
- Keep fire extinguishers on each floor.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
Mold and Water Leaks
- Fix water leaks promptly to prevent slippery surfaces and mold.
Lead Exposure
- Ensure homes built before 1978 are free from lead-based paint hazards.
- Use lead-free products.
Preventing Accidents
- Regularly inspect the home for hazards and fix them promptly.
- Teach family members about safety rules and precautions.
- Always supervise young children and monitor the home environment for potential risks.
- Fit any glass doors with a visual glazing strip to help alert people and prevent collisions and injuries.
- Any cords that are either loose or looped, including those within children's reach at floor level or near furniture they can climb on, should be secured with cleats or a tension device.
- Accidents can happen even if you have a compliant pool fence.
- Lithium-ion battery fires from damaged or overcharged devices are on the rise.
- Consider installing strong security mesh on windows to prevent falls or double-glazed windows, which have added strength.
- Keep your smoke alarms maintained.
- Never leave children unattended near a pool or spa.
- Always ensure you have a working safety switch.
- It's also important to make sure that furniture, such as cots, beds, tables, and bookshelves that children might climb on, is not placed near a window where children can reach a curtain cord.
- By law, showers and bathroom taps must be set to a maximum water temperature of 50°C, but older systems installed before the law was introduced in 1998 may not comply.
- While it's not mandatory to retrofit older units, safety-conscious homeowners can install a device called a tempering valve to reduce bathroom water temperature with the help of a qualified plumber.
- Victorian homeowners must now register their pool or spa with their local council, plus receive a Certificate of Compliance from a registered swimming pool inspector to ensure the mandatory safety barrier/s are up to standard.
- Swimming pools are the leading location for drownings in children aged one to four years old, accounting for 40 per cent of incidents.
- Make sure that the gate isn't propped open and there is nothing next to the pool fence that a child can climb on to get over the fence.
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