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Some of the Most Easily Overlooked Safety Hazards In Your Home

Written by Jack Shaw Posted On Monday, 09 October 2023 11:17
Some of the Most Easily Overlooked Safety Hazards In Your Home

Home is where you feel safe and protected. However, despite your best efforts, some items and accidents can still endanger you and your family. Children and older adults are especially susceptible to dangers hidden in plain sight. Here are some commonly overlooked hazards in the home.

1.  Falls

Falls are some of the deadliest hazards at home. Anyone can fall and injure themselves, but children and older adults are at greater risk. Around 2.2 million children and 3 million older adults are taken to the emergency room annually for fall-related injuries. People can sustain head, hip and limb injuries. Even minor falls can cause severe injuries, like fractures and head trauma in older adults.

Stairs, uneven surfaces, bathrooms and elevated areas are the most common causes of falls. Add sturdy safety gates on both ends of the stairs to prevent children from accidentally falling. Ensure that stairs, bathrooms and areas with uneven flooring are well-lit so people can see where they are going. Your staircase should also have functional and durable handrails.

For bathrooms, use non-slip mats to prevent any accidents. You should also add handrails in the shower, especially if you have older individuals at home.

2.  Furniture and Appliance Tip-Overs

Children like to explore and climb things — it’s a natural part of growing up. However, if kids climb an unsecured appliance or piece of furniture, there's a danger of it tipping over and falling on top of them. A 2021 report showed 22,500 Americans went to the emergency room for tip-over injuries. Almost half of that number were children under 18.

Injuries and fatalities come from televisions, bookcases, dressers, drawers and other heavy items. To prevent injury at home, secure all furniture adequately. Follow the government’s “Anchor It!” program guidelines to protect your family from tip-over injuries.

3.  Unmaintained Equipment

Your house is full of equipment and appliances that help make your life easier. However, when you leave them unmaintained, they can malfunction and cause significant injuries. For instance,  you create a huge fire hazard if you don’t clean your dryer’s lint trap. Additionally, an unmaintained HVAC with a dirty filter can spread pollutants into your home and affect your respiratory health.

Other mechanisms need maintenance as well. For instance, an automatic garage door with a broken sensor might not be able to detect people and pets, causing severe injury as it moves.

4.  Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, dubbed the silent killer, is colorless, odorless and virtually undetectable by the five senses. The only way to detect it is through electronic sensors. Even symptoms don't tell you you're up against carbon monoxide since they mimic regular flu symptoms.

When you've inhaled too much carbon monoxide, you can experience headaches, weakness, vomiting, stomach issues and confusion. In severe cases, it can make you lose consciousness or kill you.

To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, install one detector on every floor of your home. Keep your heating and cooling systems professionally maintained to prevent blockages in the vents, which can cause carbon monoxide buildup. Additionally, do not grill or use any gas-powered machinery indoors.

5.  Poisons

Young children are most susceptible to ingesting poisonous substances due to their curiosity. As they explore the world around them, they reach out for anything of interest and put it in their mouths. If left unsupervised, children may reach for toxic household items like rat poison, detergents, bleach and acids.

Although fatalities have decreased in recent decades, children still die from accidental poisoning. In 2020, around 43 children below 5 years old died in the U.S. due to poisoning. To prevent children from accessing dangerous substances, place any cleaning materials and medicines in high cabinets they can’t reach. If you must place them in lower locations, invest in child locks to keep curious kids away.

6.  Suffocation and Strangulation

When left unattended, children might have dangerous encounters with average household items. For instance, children can suffocate on everyday objects like plastic bags. They might get caught on wires, strings, cords and random lengths of rope at home.

Keep potentially dangerous things away from children's reach. Once you use a plastic or zip bag, put it away immediately in a secure place. Do the same with strings and other potentially hazardous items.

Infants can also suffer from sudden suffocation or strangulation. In 2020, 905 infants in America died of accidental suffocation or strangulation while in bed. Remove all stuffed animals, pillows, blankets and plush toys from the crib to keep your baby safe.

Keep Your Home Safe

Many things in a home can potentially harm the ones we love. Even though your home is the safest place you know, some things inside can cause injury without warning. Taking extra steps to keep your home hazard-free can keep you and your family safe.

Author Bio

Jack Shaw is a writer and editor for the lifestyle magazine Modded, as well as a car enthusiast and lover of nature. His writings on home design and renovations have been published on sites like CADdetails, A House in the Hills, House 2 Home Organizing and more.

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