Trips to the hospital are never ideal, but during COVID-19 they’re especially nerve-wracking. And while many of us are staying home to keep ourselves safe from the virus, we face another danger in our own houses: Falling.
We apologize for the scary statistic (we’ll keep it brief!), but falling is the third-leading cause of injury-related death outside the workplace in the United States, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
Yep, every time you walk on a wet bathroom floor, you’re taking your life into your hands. OK – maybe it isn’t that serious. But as a general precaution to protect us all from slips and spills, we gathered these at-home safety tips:
Bathrooms
Wet floors, bare feet, and hectic mornings. Oh my! Bathrooms are filled with potential pitfalls. Here’s how to safeguard yours:
- Cushion sharp edges with corner guards
- Clean regularly – mildew can be slippery
- Place bath mats with rubber backs on floors and rubber mats or tread tape inside the tub
- Install grab bars
- Clear discarded clothes, towels and other clutter from the floors
Stairs
There are so many ways that stairs can be dangerous that we could teach an entire stair safety class (catchy course title, don’t you think?). To save some time, here is the gist on good staircase practices:
- Equip stairways with sufficient lighting
- Look where you’re going (ahem – not at your phone)
- Install safety gates for children
- Consider double railings or extra grab bars
- Keep stairs and landing areas clear of clutter
- For laundry trips, opt for tall, flexible hampers with handles
Windows
Windows can be hazardous, too. We’ll spare you the nightmare-inducing data but, this is especially the case for children. These are some methods to safeguard your windows:
- Install quick-release guards on all windows from the second story up
- Teach children to play in areas that are far from windows
- Keep furniture or other items that kids like to climb on away from windows
- Keep windows closed and locked when not in use
Ladders
When it comes to DIY fixes around the house, ladders are extremely helpful. However, they can also be rather dangerous. The United States has the most ladder-related injuries out of any country in the world, with more than 164,000 people treated in emergency rooms per year for falls off of them. Why are so many Americans tumbling off of ladders? We may never know. However, numerous organizations, including the American Ladder Institute, offer a slew of safety recommendations to the general public. Here are a few:
- Choose the right size ladder according to your body weight and the height of the job
- Check the ladder for missing or broken parts
- Lock the spreaders so they are straight and secure
- Put the ladder on firm, level ground
- Maintain three points of contact: two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet on the ladder at all times
- Wear slip-resistant footwear
- Don’t put tools, paint buckets and other items on the rungs
Speaking of ladders and accessing high places, have you had your gutters checked lately? Spring is finally here, and you know what that means: It’s time for some DIY yard cleanup.
Have more work to do inside first? To make your indoor life comfier, use these interior design projects to create a home sanctuary for the whole family.
