Home safety is essential. It is something that should be carefully thought and planned to avoid extra stress should an emergency happen.
According to the National Safety Council, there were 131,400 deaths in homes in 2019. These injury-related deaths were preventable if only safety measures had been in place. To lessen the risk within your household, be sure to have the following safety items so you can be prepared in case of an emergency.
Take preventative measures and prepare for the worst emergency scenarios with these home safety essentials.
1. Smoke alarms and other fire safety items
According to statistics, you are at least four times more likely to get caught and die in a home fire if there are no working smoke alarms. Get your home a working smoke alarm and add some fire extinguishers and fire ladders.
It is recommended that an average-size home should have 1-2 fire extinguishers and ladders. Make sure to have one in the kitchen and one near any fireplaces.
If your home has upstairs bedrooms, having a fire ladder is helpful during a fire. Fire ladders are a perfect solution to escape and leave your home in hard-to-exit locations. You can easily store it in top-floor bedroom closets or under the bed for easy access. These items should be on top of your home safety essential list.
2. Carbon Monoxide Detector
If you have any fuel-burning appliances or a garage attached to your main house, it helps to install CO alarms.
Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless, and tasteless gas that may sound safe, but it is not. It is highly dangerous and cannot detect without a CO detector. If the gas accumulates inside the room and in your home, it can cause serious and life-threatening health issues. It only takes one faulty fuel-burning appliance or inappropriate ventilation for this to happen.
If the CO detector alarm sounds, look for the nearest exit and immediately leave your home. Call triple zero (000) or contact your local fire department.
3. Emergency Escape Plan
Every home should have an emergency escape plan. Creating one is not difficult, and it is well worth the effort.
Start by creating a collaborative document and discuss it with your family members. Identify the best routes to evacuate the house should an emergency occur. Build your emergency kit with enough supply rations for each family member. All these can help you prevent panic if an actual emergency happens.
4. AED (Automatic External Defibrillator)
If any family member, friend, or relative has heart disease, the best way to ensure their safety is to install a home AED.
An automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a lifesaving device that can double or triple the person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest. Having an AED in your home can help you prepare for an emergency in every way possible.
5. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is a home safety essential that should be a staple for every home. While we hope you’ll never have to use it, it helps to have one on hand.
Many injuries occur inside our homes. Some of the most common are burns from stoves, cuts from knives, scrapes, stings, and falls. A first aid kit is helpful in these types of emergencies.
The kit should include the basics such as bandages, gauze, antiseptic ointments, scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves, and sanitary wipes. Check expiration dates if you have OTC medications in your kit and restock regularly. On top of having a first aid kit, it is best to educate yourself on how to treat different kinds of injuries.
First Aid Training for the Your Family
Bring your whole family into first aid training. It is a great way to learn something new and can also improve your own home safety.
Our team at First Aid Courses Darwin believes that everyone can learn the skills to save a life. A first aid course teaches how to call EMS, perform CPR, and use an AED. Having trained in these lifesaving skills can promote safety within your home, community, and others you come into contact with.
In these unprecedented times, make sure you take all safety measures to keep your home and family safe.
