Keeping a family as safe as possible takes a lot of work, as there are many aspects to consider. As a mother of three boys, I know this all too well. Observances have been set up at certain times of the year to encourage people to think about how to keep their families as safe as possible. One example is that June is Home Safety Month. Here, we will examine some of the solutions to the top 5 hidden dangers in the home, in order to help parents keep everyone safe.
Carbon monoxide is the silent killer. It is invisible and has no odour, and it is actually the leading cause of accidental poisonings. It can come into the house from a car running in an attached garage, from malfunctioning appliances, and fireplaces, among other sources.
The only real way to protect you and your family from this danger is to get a carbon monoxide alarm. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. Check with your fire department to see what local and state laws require in terms of placement. Have all of your appliances inspected periodically.
Fire extinguishers are essential. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Most people don't consider that cracks in the foundation to be dangerous but they can be. Radon is something that most homeowners have no idea about, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Even if you don't have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints.
It's invisible and has no scent, but it can be tested for with a kit that can be purchased.
Most people have no idea how quickly fires can spread in the home. If a smoke alarm is beeping, there can sometimes be only around 2 minutes to get your family together and exit the home before it spreads too far to exit safely. The smoke alarm will typically provide you with some time to escape, but you must also have a plan for your family to follow in such an emergency. Shockingly though, only 29 percent of families have ever practiced their fire escape plan, according to one of our recent surveys.
People generally don't consider break-ins to be much of a risk. You might think it'll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds. These are a few of the most effective ways to prevent thieves from gaining access to your home: solid core entry doors should be installed along with high-quality deadbolts; entries that are well-lit; install metal grates over basement windows; and trim bushes so there are fewer places to hide. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
Carbon monoxide is the silent killer. It is invisible and has no odour, and it is actually the leading cause of accidental poisonings. It can come into the house from a car running in an attached garage, from malfunctioning appliances, and fireplaces, among other sources.
The only real way to protect you and your family from this danger is to get a carbon monoxide alarm. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. Check with your fire department to see what local and state laws require in terms of placement. Have all of your appliances inspected periodically.
Fire extinguishers are essential. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Most people don't consider that cracks in the foundation to be dangerous but they can be. Radon is something that most homeowners have no idea about, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Even if you don't have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints.
It's invisible and has no scent, but it can be tested for with a kit that can be purchased.
Most people have no idea how quickly fires can spread in the home. If a smoke alarm is beeping, there can sometimes be only around 2 minutes to get your family together and exit the home before it spreads too far to exit safely. The smoke alarm will typically provide you with some time to escape, but you must also have a plan for your family to follow in such an emergency. Shockingly though, only 29 percent of families have ever practiced their fire escape plan, according to one of our recent surveys.
People generally don't consider break-ins to be much of a risk. You might think it'll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds. These are a few of the most effective ways to prevent thieves from gaining access to your home: solid core entry doors should be installed along with high-quality deadbolts; entries that are well-lit; install metal grates over basement windows; and trim bushes so there are fewer places to hide. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
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This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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