How to Reduce the Chances of Personal Injury in Your Home

When accidents happen in the home, most of the time, these incidents occur so quickly that it's hard to figure out how they could happen in the first place. However, personal injury is quite common, and no, these accidents don't involve just the elderly. People of all ages are vulnerable. The good news is that injury-related accidents in the home and on the property don't have to take place. Here are some excellent tips we're passing along to help you and your loved ones stay safe.

Poison Prevention

It may sound hard to believe, but poisoning is the leading cause of death due to an unintentional injury in the United States. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 45 percent of these cases involved children younger than six-years-old. Also, 93 percent of poisoning cases happened in the home as statistics show. The government's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has several recommendations to follow to avoid poisoning in the home.

Here are two key tips:

1. Hide or lock-up prescription meds to keep them out of the wrong hands.

2. Always leave these drugs in their original packaging, so they're not confused with other medicines.

Don't forget your cleaning products! All of those should be stored in a place where kids and pets cannot get to them.

Fire Safety

Once a year, you should have your furnace checked by a professional to ensure that things are in safe running order to avoid a fire, gas leak or worse. If you enjoy using your fireplace during the colder evenings, have a chimney inspector drop by annually to get rid of soot and creosote build up. Even space heaters need to be checked for worn wires or malfunctioning units. Did you know that more than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year? That fact comes from the experts at Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Tree Trimming

You know what dead branches can do from an old or damaged tree on your property. Not only are you and your family at risk while outdoors, but a nasty storm could send these limbs crashing through your home and possibly cause a serious injury to you or a visitor, etc. Get rid of heavy branches that are hanging over your roof or becoming too close to electrical wires. It's a small matter that deserves attention and will help keep your home and property safe, according to a Houston personal injury lawyer.

Preventing Falls

From babies to the elderly, falls in the home happen often, and falling is considered the third leading cause of death from unintentional injuries for all ages. Older Americans are especially prone to falling, and that is why precautions should be taken in installing grab bars in the bathroom, handrails on both sides of the stairs as well as having well-lit rooms. Throw rugs are another item in the home that cause accidents, and elderly people should avoid having these kinds of rugs that can bunch up and cause tripping. Young children should also never be left unattended where they can trip over furniture or have access to a balcony, windows or porches.

Safeguarding Electronics

Let's face it; we're in the digital age, and we have tons of electronics around in all sorts of devices. Another important tip is keeping your home's electronics away from water. We all know that electronics and water don't mix and can cause damage to your favorite devices. More importantly, however, is the risk this combination poses. Do not keep electronics near water. Also do not place them where they could fall in water or a child could pull them in. Another essential bit of advice is this one: Never use water on an electrical fire to try and put it out. Instead, you should use a multipurpose fire extinguisher. 

You want to keep yourself and the people close to you safe in your home, and that's why taking some simple steps ahead of time can make all the difference. Personal injury in the home is common. In 2018, the United States reported more than 46.5 million injuries. That is a staggering number. Be safe, and avoid being a statistic.