Remaining Safe in Your Home
Individuals of all age trip and fall in their homes. In some cases, this can lead to serious injuries including broken bones and head trauma. Sometimes these injuries are fatal. People can trip over loose cables, furniture, rickety stairs, slippery floors or electrical cords. The best way to prevent injuries is to make your home safe. This does not mean you have to spend a fortune remodeling your home. Making some simple changes can help keep you safe.
The Danger of Clutter and Tripping Hazards
One of the best ways to prevent a nasty fall is to clean up any clutter. Not only will your home appear more trendy and tidy, but you will be removing potentially dangerous obstacles. Throw away any piles of magazines and newspapers sitting in your hallway or on your staircase. Either get rid of or repair any tripping hazards that may cause a fall. This includes cables, electrical wires, loose carpeting, throw rugs that tend to slide, uneven or protruding floorboards and furniture placed in walkways or high traffic areas. Look through your hallway and every room in your home to ensure there is nothing to cause a tripping hazard.
Installing Handrails and Grab Bars
One of the most common misconceptions is handrails and grab bars are only for the elderly. This is simply not true. A young man can lose his balance stepping out of a wet shower or bathtub just as easily as an elderly man. Placing a grab bar in a hallway or a stairway provides something solid to hold onto if a member of your family should lose their footing for any reason. These devices are not difficult to install correctly. If you are unable to do so, you can call a friend or a handyman for assistance. If a handrail prevents just one fall, it was worth the effort. Tripsafe Australia offers excellent information and guidance for all the trips and falls regarding home safety.
The Importance of Clothing and Shoes
Everyone wants to feel relaxed and comfortable in their homes. The issue is if you wear baggy clothing, the risk of falling increases. Overly loose clothing can drag on the ground and create a tripping hazard. When your clothing is correctly hemmed it will not drag and cause you to fall. If you are like many people who wear socks at home, you need to be extremely careful. Socks can easily slip on a floor and cause you to lose your balance. It is much safer to wear either a comfortable pair of shoes or to buy some non-slip socks with grips on the bottoms. Wearing regular socks is especially dangerous on wet flooring in your bathroom, kitchen or porch. Purchasing nonslip mats is always a good idea.
Your Lighting is Critical
One of the easiest ways to fall is if your home has inadequate lighting. Using brighter light bulbs throughout your home makes it much easier to see any potential trip hazards in your path. This is especially true for narrow hallways and stairways. You can use night lights in your bedrooms and bathrooms to keep your family safe at night.
The Dangers of Stairways
Your stairways are a potential falling hazard. It is important to make certain there are solid and secure handrails to hold onto while going up or down the stairs. Any badly frayed, torn or protruding carpeting should be replaced immediately. Walk up and down your stairs slowly and safely as opposed to running or taking two or three stairs at a time.
