Safety in the home

Dear reader, the home can sometimes be a dangerous place to be if some safety precautions are not taken into consideration. Think of a situation whereby pieces of furniture or equipment have been loosely piled and they are located in placed where children pass through. It is not enough to warn children or indeed adults not to pass through such places. The best way to solve this is by to fixing the equipment or furniture in such a way that they are firmly stacked to avoid movement and falling.

One other aspect to consider in the home is to reduce the risk of poisoning. In our homes we keep a lot of chemicals and plants that are toxic. We need, therefore, to keep all medicines away from children and in storage facilities as recommended by doctors. For instance, most medicines are supposed to be kept in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight.

Most of us love to keep plants inside and outside our homes. We need to know the kind of plants that we have planted in our yard. Some plants develop beautiful and good smelling flowers or fruits which may be attractive to children these must be planted away from where children frequent. It is a good idea to abandon planting such in the home to avoid the regret of children tasting the poison.

It is also a good idea to have a list of various service providers and key relatives who can offer help in case of an emergency. You need to have a list of the family doctor or hospital, ambulance, police service, key relatives like parents or next of kin, neighbour and employer. A friend told me some years back that he puts such names on the calendar so that anyone can easily see it. It sounds crude but it is helpful and handy.

The home must also have a fire fighting plan. If finances may permit, you can buy fire extinguishers, but you can as well have other forms of fire fighting such as keeping a pail of sand handy which can be used to put out fires. A ready supply of water can also help in the event of a fire.

Some accidents in the home take place in the home due to slippery floor. It is, therefore, advisable that floors must be dry at all times. Spillages of water and oils can make people fall and may have dangerous implications which may include injury.

Wishing you, dear reader, a week full of activity. Remember, if you want it perfectly done, do it yourself.n