7 Ways to Prevent Accidents at Home

Accidents happen.

Sometimes an accident can cause a broken arm, a burned finger or a few stitches, but in the United States, hundreds of times a day an accident turns tragic. The CDC reports that in 2014, 136,053 deaths (or 5.2% of total deaths) were caused by unintentional injury. What's more is that accidents also caused over 31 million visits to the emergency room.*

At times, accidents can seem almost inevitable. It's not likely that you'll be able to prevent every slip, fall or scrape, but that doesn't mean you can't try.  Making your home and family safer can happen in just a few steps.

Prevent Poisonings

Install a carbon monoxide detector. A carbon monoxide detector can help you identify if you have a gas leak in your home. To cover your entire home, make sure that there is one on each floor, nearest to bedrooms. These devices are relatively inexpensive, and when installed properly, can help prevent gas poisoning.

Have a list of phone numbers on the fridge. Program the poison control hotline number (800-222-1222) in every cell phone in your home, and list it on your fridge. Research other emergency numbers that might be helpful and do the same. Saving time in an accident could be paramount to preventing death.

Prevent House Fires

Install a smoke detector on every floor of your home. If a fire were to occur in your home, your first priority would obviously be to make sure that your family got out unscathed. Putting a smoke detector on every floor of your home (nearest the bedrooms) can help ensure that you are alerted at the first sign of smoke. If you have small children, you may always want to consider a smoke alarm that you can program with your voice, providing warning and escape instructions. Changing batteries annually is also recommended. Some suggest doing it on your birthday or another easy to remember date.

Have a fire extinguisher accessible (and know how to use it). To have a first extinguisher on hand is obvious, but many people have never had the opportunity to use one. If you haven't learned how to use a fire extinguisher, don't wait to learn until you need it. Make sure that your entire family is trained.

Keep a grate around an open fire. You can decrease your risk of house fire by putting a grate, or other fire-retardant barrier, between any open flame and your home. In doing so, you could prevent a log from rolling out of a fire place or embers from blowing into your home.

Prevent Falls and Slips

Install railings and rug pads around your house. Slips and falls around the house can happen at any age. Making sure that any slippery areas, indoors or outdoors, have railings can help prevent accidents. It may also help, if you have any area rugs around your house, to install rug pads underneath them. Rug pads keep area rugs in place, making them safer for your family.

Reinforce heavy furniture. Whether due to an earthquake or a young child that likes to climb, furniture, like dressers, television and bookshelves, can fall and become hazardous when not properly attached to a wall. Ideally, heavy furniture should be attached to a wall stud. When that isn't an option, furniture straps can do the trick, generally securing items up to 200 lbs.

To help keep your family safe, it is also recommended that you seek out first aid education. With your whole family trained, you may be able to prevent major accidents. Look for first aid and CPR classes that you can take together so that you'll be prepared.

Another way to help ensure your family is protected is to buy an Accidental Death life insurance policy. These policies will provide a death benefit to your family should you die or become seriously injured in an accident. Find out more information here.

* https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr65/nvsr65_04.pdf (2014)