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5 Fall Home Safety Tips

Fall may already be in full swing, but it’s not too late to update your safety routine!

By Sam LarsonPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Fall may already be in full swing, but it’s not too late to update your safety routine! Chances are with the current climate and global pandemic, families are spending more time inside than ever before. With an increase in time spent in home dwellings, why not make it the coziest - and safest - place it can be?

By using these five fall home safety tips, you can ensure your favorite place is also your safest!

Check Your Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

To ensure proper functionality, test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly. When you hear the chirp signifying low battery, don’t wait: install new batteries immediately. After ten years, replace the detectors in your home.

Ensure Good Grips to Prevent Slip & Fall Accidents

The fall season is not a time for slip, trip, and fall accidents! “A slip and fall accident may sound relatively innocuous, but some people suffer significant injuries from these accidents, especially older individuals,” notes Long Beach injury lawyers at Harting Simkins & Ryan, LLP, “elderly fall victims often suffer serious wounds from their falls, and suffering a fall at an older age increases the chances of repeat falls in the future.”

Prevent slip and falls by ensuring hallways and stairs have non-slip rugs and handrails for added support. If you plan on having older guests staying for the holidays, also consider moving footrests and throw rugs to low foot traffic areas and adding extra lights for increased visibility.

Make Fire Safety a Priority

If there was a house fire, where is the nearest exit? Where should your family reconvene outside of the home? Take this as an opportunity to make a fire escape plan with your family.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than three times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day as on a typical day of the year. Be prepared this autumn by knowing what to do if you have a fire, checking the levels on your fire extinguisher, and never leave hot items or candles unattended.

Use Caution When Using a Ladder

Whether you use a ladder to hang up holiday decorations or to clean out your gutters, use extreme caution. Before stepping on the ladder, give it a thorough inspection to ensure there is no damage or erosion and to make sure you are abiding by the maximum load rating.

Ensure it is the right height for the task at hand; ladder users should never use the top rung to complete a task. Ladders should be placed on level ground at all times and ideally on a dry surface. Take one step at a time and ensure you are wearing proper shoes with grip to prevent a fall.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Wintertime can bring uncomfortable and dangerous conditions to homes, such as being snowed in or losing power. This fall, be prepared, just in case!

“Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days,” notes FEMA’s Ready campaign. Basic emergency supply kits should include the following items: water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, can openers, local maps, cell phone with chargers, and personal sanitization items.

Since Spring of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommend people keep additional items to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as masks, sanitizers, and non-prescription medications such as pain relievers.

Home Safety For All Seasons

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to influence lives around the world, more time is spent at home than ever before. This fall season, make your home the coziest and safest place for you and your family by following these 5 safety tips. A safe home is the best type of home. Stay warm and stay safe!

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About the Creator

Sam Larson

Writer of things, lover of art.

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