The Importance of Maintaining a Safe Home and Yard
Maintaining a safe home and yard is important for the safety of your family, but also for the safety of your friends, guests, workers, and other people who may be accessing your property. Keeping your home free of dangers and equipped with home safety products can prevent mundane accidents such as falls and can protect you from emergencies like fires. Practice some good habits around your home to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Smoke Detectors
These devices can save lives by warning occupants to evacuate, but many homeowners don’t test their devices often enough. Check your device monthly, and never neglect to replace batteries when the device requires it. Form a fire escape plan and practice it with your family. The majority of injuries during fires are caused by smoke inhalation, so early evacuation is key. Teach your children where to go, how to open windows and screens if that is a safe escape route, and what they should do in case of a fire.
Identify Tripping Hazards
Falls are another leading cause of injury around homes. Walk through your home and yard and identify tripping hazards. Look for things like:
- Poorly lit stairs
- Loose wires
- Bunched or slippery rugs
- Clutter on the floor
- Roots
- Loose tiles, pavers, stepping stones, or steps
- Standing water, ice, mud, or snow
- Dark paths
Take steps to remedy these hazards. You may need to change watering habits, tidy up, install solar lights, or even contact professional help to handle repairs. Ridding your home of tripping hazards can prevent falls, and protect you from liability.
Protect Pets and Children From Poisoning
Children and pets should not be permitted access to medications, cleaning supplies, and other toxic substances. Reevaluate your storage for these products and make sure that they are still adequate. A child may have learned how to open cabinet doors or child locks. Prescription medications should be secured and kept away from children and teens a like. Pets should be kept out of garages, sheds, or yards where they may have access to chemicals without your knowledge. Check that your storage solutions are still as safe as intended. Post the hotline number for Poison Control next to your home phone and talk to your children about the dangers of handling chemicals without supervision.
Keep Your Kitchen Safe
Good kitchen habits can prevent burn injuries. Review your habits and make sure that you use safe procedures around your kitchen. Remember to turn pot handles towards the back of the stove, stay in the room when using the stove, and use good knife safety habits. Never place hot plates or drinks on table cloths, in case children or pets pull on the cloth. Never reach into a garbage disposal to clear it. Keep dishes, pots, and knives away from the edge of the counter, and keep cords tucked away neatly.
Protect Your Family from Drowning
Pools are a common drowning hazard, but they are not the only one. Ensure that your pool is fenced completely with sturdy fencing that is at least 4 feet. All entrances should have self-latching gates, and you may want to lock gates when the pool isn’t in use. Supervise the pool when in use. Adult swimmers should never swim alone, even if they are competent swimmers.
Never leave small children unattended in the bath tub. Stay with them, even if you aren’t helping them bathe. Also keep bathroom doors closed to keep toddlers away from toilets without your knowledge. Consider fencing ponds or other water features, or closely watch children around them. Never leave buckets of water or other fluids where a toddler can reach them.
Reduce Your Liability
As a homeowner, you have a responsibility to prevent injury to people on your property. This includes your own guests, as well as contractors, delivery people, and other workers. Taking steps to eliminate hazards can reduce your liability as a homeowner. Ensuring that your property is safe can take work, and maintaining your safe home and yard can be a lifestyle change. Protecting yourself from liability is well worth the work, though, and protecting your family from injury is priceless. Consistently check for and eliminate hazards in your home, perform (or hire professionals to perform) maintenance around your home, and protect against seasonal hazards to keep your property safe.
Property maintenance is a must for homeowners seeking to lower their liability for accidents. Not all homeowners are as diligent, however, and if you have been injured due to negligence, you are entitled to compensation. Our Denver personal injury attorneys know that your injuries can severely impact your life, and we believe that you deserve compensation for them. Jordan Law has recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we can help you. Contact our firm today to discuss your case with us.