Home Safety Tips

Homeowner Safety Tips

An injury in your home can cause harm to you or your family members. An injury can also affect visitors, which could result in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit from the injured visitor or surviving family members to recover monetary compensation for injuries. To prevent personal injury, it’s good to follow a list of home safety tips.

Here are some important home safety tips to keep in mind:

• Keep stairs and walkways free of debris.
• Ensure there are easily accessible and sturdy handrails on both sides of your staircases.
• Install and use grab bars in the shower and tub.
• Provide adequate lighting to all areas of the home, especially the staircase. The CDC also cautions that as you age, you may need shades or light curtains to reduce glare and make navigating the home easier.
• Limit the use of small freestanding rugs or use double-sided tape to affix them them securely to the floor so they cannot slip.
• Affix a non-stick mat to the bottom of the tub and shower or use non-slip adhesive in these locations.
• Clean up spills as soon as they happen.
• Wear shoes inside and outside the home.

Children, and especially those who are first learning to walk, are more likely to fall and more likely to suffer serious injuries if they fall. To protect kids from fall injuries:

• Locate furniture, toys and play areas away from upstairs windows. Consider installing window guards.
• Use baby safety gates at the bottom and top of stairs and at any location where there is a step-down or change in floor elevation.
• Baby-proof your home when toddlers are learning to walk, using special round corners on hard edges of furniture, counters and fireplaces.
• Use between 9 and 12 inches of safety material to cover the ground underneath playgrounds or swing sets in the yard.
• Put away stepladders and stools after use.

Falls are also likely to occur outdoors where there are numerous hazards that can cause people to lose their footing. To protect yourself and your guests and to minimize the risk of outdoor fall injuries:

• Keep sidewalks and walkways free of debris.
• Remove snow and ice as quickly as possible.
• Fix cracked, broken, uneven or chipped sidewalks or walkways.
• Provide adequate outdoor lighting along all walkways, porches and porch steps.
• Store ladders in a secured garage or shed on their side when not in use.

Home Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Swimming pools are another top cause of injury. To reduce the risk of a tragic accident involving a swimming pool:

• Supervise children at all times while in or near the pool.
• Consider installing a pool alarm that alerts you if someone gets into the pool.
• Completely surround your pool with a secure fence that has a self-latching gate. Consider locking the gate.
• Know and understand local and state building codes related to securing a swimming pool.
• Teach your children to swim as soon as possible.

Home Safety Tips to Prevent Dog Bites

Dogs are another common cause of injury to visitors, with the American Humane Society estimating that as many as 4.7 million dog bites occur each year. To reduce the chances of a dog bites

• Make sure you are ready for the responsibility of a dog before bringing one into your home. Dogs require training, and it is a lot of work to take care of a dog. A child cannot take care of a dog on his or her own, so you need to be prepared for a family pet before getting a dog.
• Consult with a professional, such as a trainer or reputable breeder, to make sure you choose the right dog for your lifestyle. Some dogs are more active and require much more exercise and care than others.
• Provide adequate training to your dog as a puppy. Dogs should be socialized and trained from a young age to understand their role within the family pack and to learn how to interact appropriately with people and dogs.
• Teach your children from a young age how to safely interact with dogs and supervise your children at all times when they are with the family pet.
• Spend time with a dog before adopting or buying it and bringing it into your home so you have an understanding of the dog’s temperament.
• Do not try to take food out of the mouth of a dog and avoid disturbing a dog that is sleeping or caring for puppies.
• Give a dog an opportunity to see and sniff you before petting the dog.
• Avoid adopting a dog with a history of aggression.

Get Help from a New York City Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in an accident at someone else’s home, get a free consultation with an experienced New York City personal injury lawyer.

The litigation team at David Resnick & Associates, P.C., has a track record of getting for maximum financial compensation for injured people and their families. Call us now or use this online contact form to find out how we can help you.