SAFETY FIRST
This information should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from, or treatment by, your physician. Please contact your physician for additional information about your condition.
Everyday, we encounter situations and circumstances where safety is a concern. Sometimes it’s simple habits, like buckling our seatbelts, that help keep us safe, and sometimes we must make more conscious efforts depending on the situation. Regardless of the situation, there are some simple things we can do to make our surroundings safer for ourselves and our families and friends.
Do you think only the elderly need to worry about falling? Falls in the home and surrounding areas are the leading cause of accidental injury and death. What can you do to help prevent falls?
- Be sure to pick up clutter from walkways in your home and make sure all phone and electric cords are secured away from walkways
- When working or playing outside, be sure the area is free of debris and the ground is stable and secure
- Be careful of dimly lit or unlit areas. You’re much more likely to fall in the dark – even if you think you could navigate it “with your eyes closed.”
There may be dangers anywhere in your house. The Home Safety Council issued a report indicating the most common problems that lead to injuries in the home:
- Unsafe storage of medications and other poisons.
- Inadequate railings and banisters.
- Water heaters set at too high a temperature.
Firearms improperly stored or locked up. In addition to these items, check out the home safety checklists available at www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid and see how your home measures up.
While prevention is always best, being prepared in the event that an accident or emergency occurs can greatly increase chances of survival and possibly reduce further injury. Ask yourself a few questions to assess your emergency preparedness:
- Am I CPR / First Aid trained and certified?
- Are emergency numbers (police, fire, poison control) posted near each phone?
- Are children taught how to contact someone in the event of an emergency?
- Do I have at least one well-supplied first aid kit in my home and one in my car?
- Does everyone in my home know where to find and how to use a fire extinguisher?
- Do we have a family communication plan and escape route?
- Do I have enough non-perishable food and bottled water to sustain my household for three days in the event of an emergency?
Sources: www.webmd.com; www.consumer.gov; www.kidshealth.org; www.fema.gov