Everyone wants their loved ones to be as safe as possible. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to carefully evaluate the safety hazards present in your own home.

Creating a safe home for children

Despite the fact that creating a safe home environment is a priority for most parents, millions of children are injured in home accidents each year. Often making a home safer for kids is a simple matter of following some easy rules. Identifying and limiting your home's child safety shortcomings is a good idea even if you don't have kids of your own.

• Install safety gates at both the top and the bottom of all stairways. Gates that utilize pressure to hold to the wall may not be sturdy enough to resist a determined child. Instead use only models that are hard-mounted into the wall or banister.
• Keep stairways and landings clear of toys and any other objects that could be tripped over.
• Keep chairs and furniture away from windows and balconies.
• Install either window guards or restrictors that limit how far windows can be opened. Never rely on the window screen alone to keep your child from falling out of a window.
• Rugs should be secured to the floor using a piece of foam backing, double-sided tape, or a rubber pad.
• Make sure that your carpet is not bunched up in any areas.
• Install no-slip mats inside and outside of the bathtub.
• Outdoor play areas should have soft surfaces to cushion your child's falls. Wood chips, bark mulch, sand, pea gravel, and rubber mats are just some examples of surfaces that are good for playgrounds. In certain weather conditions, even grass and sod can be hard enough to cause serious injury. Avoid concrete, asphalt, or brick play areas at all costs.
• Secure tall furniture (such as bookcases) to the wall studs to prevent them from toppling down. Children often like to pull on furniture as they stand up.
• Pad the edges and corners of tables and fireplaces.
• Always use the safety belts that come with changing tables, high chairs and child swings.
• Only use cribs compliant with current safety standards. Never use a crib that has slats spaced more than 2 3/8 inches apart, as an infant can easily get caught in small spaces. Never use a crib with broken or frayed parts.
• Keep the cords from drapes and blinds coiled out of a child's reach, as they pose a strangulation hazard.
• Place childproof covers over all open electrical sockets.
• Children are curious and prone to sticking things in their mouths; all small objects must be kept out of their reach. Coins, buttons and other small items are choking hazards.
• Carefully follow the age restrictions when buying toys for your child. Many toys intended for older children have small pieces that younger kids can easily choke on.
• Always test the water before putting your child in the bathtub. A child's skin burns far more easily than an adult's.
• Never leave an infant or toddler alone in a bathtub. Small children can drown in just a few inches of water.

Each year, fires kill more Americans than any other natural disaster. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 80% of fire deaths occur in residences. While no home can ever be completely fireproof, there are many steps you can take to greatly reduce the risk of fire for your family and your home:

• Smoke detectors are the most important part of your home fire safety! Make sure your home has smoke detectors at least in every bedroom, and test them frequently.
• Use appliances wisely. Overheating, unusual smells, shorts and sparks are all warning signs that an appliance needs to be shut off and either repaired or replaced. Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Never overload circuits or extension cords. Don't place cords or wires under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas.
• Portable heaters need at least three feet of space from any combustible materials.
• Fireplaces should be used with fire screens, and chimneys should have annual cleanings.
• Have at least two fire extinguishers in your home, with one in a designated place in the kitchen. Cooking fires are the leading cause of both home fires and home fire injuries in the U.S.
• Extinguish candles before going to bed or when leaving a room. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• If smoking indoors, always use an ashtray and exercise caution. Careless smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths in the U.S.
• Properly inspect and maintain your home's heating system. Poorly maintained heating systems cause many fires.
• Consider the installation of a home sprinkler system. Such systems are now much more affordable and greatly diminish the risk of fire injuries.

These are just a few ways that you can make your home a safer place from fire. More information can be found on the U.S. Fire Administration's website, www.usfa.fema.gov, or by contacting your local fire department.

The dangers of chemicals in the home

From cleaning products to cosmetics to prescription medicines, every house is filled with potential poisons and toxins. Over 92% of the nearly 2.45 million people exposed to toxic substances in 2003 were exposed in the home, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Yet most of us fail to take even the most basic safety precautions when it comes to the chemicals in our house. Chemical safety is for every home, not just those with small children. Here are some ways you can reduce the hazards from chemicals in your home:

• Wear gloves and follow the manufacturer's instructions when using harsh chemicals or cleaners. Always wear eye and mouth protection when instructed to do so!
• Carefully read the storage instructions of all chemicals. Certain chemicals may be volatile when stored near heat sources.
• Keep chemicals in original bottling/packaging with original labels intact. Most labeling contains important storage and poison control information that should not be discarded.
• Store chemicals away from food products to protect from possible leakage.
• Never transfer chemicals to glasses, pop bottles, or other food containers. They could be mistakenly consumed.
• Put away products immediately after use, and clean up all spills as they occur.
• Volatile or toxic chemicals stored in the garage are best kept in a high, locked cabinet.
• Always check the expiration date of medication before taking. Out-of-date medicine should be disposed of.
• Never transfer medication to new containers. Many pills look very similar, and the information on the medicine bottle could be vital in an emergency.

• All medicines and chemicals should be stored with child-resistant caps.
• All chemicals should be stored in high cabinets, preferably secured with child locks.
• Avoid purchasing chemicals packaged with pictures of food on them (such as citrus cleaners that show an orange). Children can mistake such bottles for food products.

Post the national poison control hotline telephone number (1-800-222-1222) next to every phone. If someone in your home consumes chemicals, call the hot line immediately and follow their instructions!

Cindy Joynt, Prudential Georgia Realty

400 North Lake Lanier/925 Sanders Road, Cumming, GA 30041

(678) 313-4018 or (770) 844-8484

www.gaflproperties.info