Do you put safety 1st? Find out how to keep you and your loved ones safe at home.
Try these safety tips in your home, pool and yard.
In your home
You’ve set aside time to clean the house from top to bottom. That’s a great idea, but don’t rush it. Take breaks to avoid overtaxing your body.
You finished your chores, went shopping and did a load of laundry? Good for you! But don’t rush to bring those bags in or carry those heavy clothes through the house. Make sure you know how heavy a box or bag is before lifting it, then remember to lift with your legs — not your back. Carry the item in your power zone, the area between the mid-thigh and mid-chest.
Use a step stool or stepladder instead of a chair or table to reach for items above your head. Ensure the ladder is on solid, flat ground and you know where you’re putting your feet while on the way down.
Avoid slips in the tub by using non-slip mats and grab bars. And ensure rugs stay in place by using non-skid pads or double-sided tape.
Around the pool
We all know it, but do we walk — not run — around the pool? Why should you take it slow? Water splashing from the pool can create slippery conditions on the pool deck, potentially causing you to fall.
Have you taught your children how to swim, not to enter the pool alone and to stay away from drains? If not, do so — soon. More than 370 children under the age of 15 drown in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Do you keep chlorine and other hazardous chemicals stored in an area where snooping kids — and pets — can’t find them? If not, find a secure location to lock them in.
In the yard
Hazards abound when doing yard work. Be prepared so you don’t become one of the more than 80,000 people a year in the U.S. who seek emergency care for lawn mower injuries. Keep your eyes safe by wearing protective glasses and your ears safe by wearing earplugs to cancel out the high decibels of the mower.
Before you start mowing, pick up any items like sticks or stones that may fly when you hit them, injuring you or others nearby. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes — not sandals — when mowing the lawn, which helps protect your feet from injury if you slip.
