From our childhood, we are taught to identify or sense danger and stay away from it. The danger is exposure to loss, injury, harm, or pain; both physically and mentally. We all want and thus create an environment that is safe for our family and all of us to grow and thrive in it. But the practical scene is not so rosy. Danger is everywhere; on the streets while driving while traveling in plane or train; danger is present in land, sky, or water. There are so many things that can be dangerous to us; it can be in form of natural calamities, purposely inflicted danger, or freak accidents. We can avoid danger and there are times we cannot avoid danger. This can happen due to many reasons. There are certain dangers that are known to us so we know how to stay aloof from them. But again there are dangers around the corner for which we are not ready and those dangers can cause us harm. If we are unmindful (though we know it’s dangerous), danger can come to us.
We at Healthy Homes believes that along with your home, you should also stay healthy. Healthy Homes care for you, so we thought of jotting down some points that can be dangerous at home. Our homes shield us from everything. Whenever something happens outside, we want to hurry and get back to the comfort of our homes. Our homes make us feel safe. But this haven also has some dangers lurking here and there. As a homeowner, we are aware of the dangers and we stay alert. Still, we want to remind you of certain dangers lurking in our homes, waiting to harm us any time. It’s the effort of Healthy Homes to you to remind and warn you of the dangers that are present at homes. Thankfully, though a number of dangers lurk around the average home, most of these concerns are pretty easy to address.
Falls
Injuries or fatalities due to falls are so common but we still we sometimes cannot prevent them. Every other household will tell you an incident of an elderly person or anyone falling and breaking bones. Falls happen due to numerous reasons and at numerous places. Wet floors at bedrooms & bathrooms, colourless plastic, slippery stairs, stool, scattered toy, and many simple things like these can cause falls. Therefore we need to make sure that after mopping, the floors, stairs need to be dry before anyone uses them. Also, we should pick up any items, plastics that our feet might roll over it and we may fall. If we are standing on a stool to do some work, we should make sure that we are not standing on the edge, otherwise, the stool may topple and we can have a nasty fall.
Puddles of Water
If you notice some puddles on the floor (and you don’t have a new puppy), it could be a sign of poor ventilation and mold. Mold is a particularly common problem in bathrooms with inadequate ventilation. Examine pipes to check for moisture or excessive condensation. If everything checks out, but you have a lack of ventilation, it’s time to call in a contractor to add an exhaust fan. Allergies and asthma reactions are intensified when mold is present.
Hard Candies
A study reveals that candy is the most common form of choking for children under the age of 14. Children will always keep asking you for candies, toffees, chocolates, etc. Hide it from them. Do not keep it at any place where they might look for. If you keep it on upper shelves also, they will pull a chair and stool and try to reach it. Then again the danger of falling and getting injured looms over. So it’s better to tell them to go to their rooms and then you take it out without them being seeing your hidden place to keep candies. Also teach them to lick candies, so that the risk of swallowing and choking is reduced. Ask them to sit at a place and lick candies and not to run while having it. Having a candy while running can slip inside the child’s mouth and choke the child. Teach them to be careful while having things like candies and toffees. The best way is to have them eat it under your or an adult’s supervision.
Washrooms
This is a major dangerous area of your home. Bath time accidents are all too common. The floor of the bathrooms always becomes slippery when water falls on the floor or is poured on it. It becomes a dangerous environment for anyone unsteady on their feet. Use bath mats both inside and outside of the bath, install hand-rails where possible. Special care should be taken for elders and children.
Musty Menace
If your bathroom or basement has a musty odor, chances are you have a mold problem. Mold can grow inside ductwork, behind walls and ceilings, and under floors; anywhere excessive moisture builds up. Although mold can typically be detected by smell, you also can check by shining a bright light on any suspect areas or using a black light. Fortunately, this home irritant can be easily removed with commercial cleansers. Prevent future buildups of mold by using dehumidifiers and fans to reduce dampness.
We, at Healthy Homes, request you to follow the above points and keep them in mind to live a danger-free life. We hope this blog will help to reduce the numerous preventable injuries in and around your home. We want you to keep a vigilant eye out for warning signs of these home dangers.
