Did you know that the place in which you feel the most relaxed and safe, your home may be full of hazards that can threaten your safety and the safety of those you love? The good news is you can find out about some of the most common home hazards below and what to do about them to stay safe.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide can come from a range of sources in the home from stoves, to fireplaces and even vehicles. Odorless and colorless it’s very hard to tell if Carbon Monoxide or C0 is building up in your home atmosphere. Unfortunately, it’s a very dangerous gas indeed because when it enters the human body in enough concentration it stops the blood from being able to transport oxygen properly and effectively causes suffocation. The scary thing is that it can happen pretty quickly too, and because of its nature, it’s very hard to spot.
The best approach here is to make sure that every property you own or live in has a C0 detector that will alert you if there is a leak or if levels get too high. Just like a fire alarm, you will need to test the batteries of this device regularly and ensure it’s working.
Fire Dangers
From rouge deep fat fryers to clogged air ducts there are plenty of things that can cause a fire to break out in your home. Of course, when it comes to fire, the best approach is always one of prevention. This means using cooking items with care, watching them carefully, and having the necessary interventions like fire blankets and extinguishers on hand. It also means making sure you invest in services like air duct cleaning regularly. The reason is that these can remove all the dust, debris and lint and so minimize the chances of a fire.
Last of all it means installing reliable and good quality fire alarms and testing them regularly as well as replacing the batteries when required. It also always pays to have a fire escape route planned out for you, your family and your pets just in case the worst does happen and you cannot catch it before it spreads.
Trees
If you are lucky enough to have trees on your property it’s likely that you enjoy them very much, and don’t think about the dangers they could pose. Unfortunately, trees can be hazardous, especially when they are not well maintained because branches or bowes can break loose and fall on your home. In turn, this can lead to all sorts of issues from damage to your property to injury to your person.
The risk of falling branches is especially likely in bad weather, as high winds, heavy rain, hail or snow can trigger them to fall.
The answer here is to make sure that you maintain your trees as well as possible. This means regularly checking them for any rotting, loose branches, or damage. It also means having any dead wood trimmed away by professionals before the bad weather arrives.
When you are planting trees around your property, it can also be very helpful to make sure you leave a good distance between the spot you choose and any buildings. Then as your tree grows it will pose less of a threat to the structure of your home.
Stairs
Unless you live in a one-story property, it’s almost impossible to avoid using the stairs. However, stairs, while essential for getting from one floor to another, can also pose a major safety risk. Indeed, stairs are a common site for all sorts of slips, trips and falls from minor ones to fatal ones.
With this in mind, if you want to make your stairs safer, then there are some actions you can take. The first is to make sure you have sturdy handrails that are accessible and run along your stairs so people can use them as they climb and also catch them if they do fall, preventing them from tumbling down.
Good lighting, especially at night, and the use of reflective tape can also help improve visibility on and around the stairs and minimize the risk of tripping and falling.
Mold
Last of all, mold can be a real hazard in the home, if it’s not properly kept in check. This is because mold can cause health issues such as breathing difficulties, allergies and asthma. The way to prevent and minimize mold in your home, and so make it a safer place is to do everything you can to deal with any damp areas. This may include fixing leaks in windows, roofs, or pipes, and using a dehumidifier.
If mold has already started to form, cleaning it with bleach, or working with professionals to have it expertly cleaned is the best approach here.
