Family safety is more than just preventing against fire and crime. Everyday situations can affect your safety. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death among children. Elderly people as well are very susceptible to injury from falling, but everyone can gain from a fall proof home.
Windows and Balconies
Children are explorers by nature and are often tempted to climb up to windows and balcony guardrails to see what’s going on outside. A fall can happen in an instant. Never leave children unattended on a balcony or near an open window.
Some bi-laws require apartment window to have mechanical safety devices that prevent them from being open more than a few inches. In most cases window screens are not strong enough to prevent falls by even the smallest child.
Checklist:
- Remove anything climbable away from all windows and balconies. This may include, cribs, beds, chairs, furniture or even stuffed animals.
- Ensure that everyone in your apartment knows that window screens cannot prevent a fall.
- Place childproof locks on exits to balconies and windows.
- Consider the use of a child safety beam alarm
Preventing Falls throughout the home
Windows and Balconies aren’t the only fall hazards in a home. Slippery outside steps and indoor floors, poorly lit stairs, and clutter are responsible for a vast number of falls each year. Each of these problems is easily preventable.
Checklist:
- Don’t use throw or scatter rugs on hard surfaces without a slip resistant underlay.
- Consider night lights in hallways or a glow in the dark light switch plate.
- Keep all floors free from clutter and spills.
- Reduce the need fro a step stool by storing heavier items on lower shelves and frequently used items within arm length
- Make sure all step stools have a safety handle and rubber tipped feet.
- Repair all damaged floor surfaces like bent vinyl tiles, chipped ceramic, or wrinkled carpet to prevent tripping.
- Use non-slip mats in the bathroom and beside the tub.
- Consider the use of grab bars, and a bath stool or bench in the bathroom
- Consider adding a strip along the edge of each house step in a contrasting color for ease of use.
- Always close all file cabinets and drawers
- Cover all cables that cross walkways.
- Replace all used light bulbs and faulty switches.
- If you use floor wax in the kitchen make sure it is the non-skid kind.
- If you wear reading glasses, make sure you remove them before going up or down stairs.
- Keep a flashlight and fresh batteries in a safe convenient place in case there is a power failure