Keeping Safe at Home

Home Safety

A Home Safety Checklist

Here is a quick checklist of some of the many ways we can protect ourselves from everyday risks:

• Use nonslip tiles on floors particularly where they may get wet.
• In bathrooms and other exposed places use safety glass for doors and panels.
• Do not have electrical plug sockets in bathrooms.
• Get your water tested for mineral or bacterial contamination.
• Don't drink or clean your teeth in tap water.
• Check your septic tank is not leaking.
• Don't eat leftovers in tropical climates.
• Keep gas cylinders and their regulators outside or in a well ventilated space.
• Don't make steps to steep.
• Don't set ceiling fans too low.
• Make sure the gas is turned off after you finish cooking.
• Pull plugs out when you leave the house.
• Get your electricity circuits checked particularly if you have an alang alang roof.
• Provide balustrades along drops more than a normal step high.
• Avoid having sharp edges on floors, steps tables and chairs.
• Make sure all electrical circuits are earthed.
• Do not have your water heater set higher than 65 degrees.
• Make sure the hot tap is on the left.
• Avoid the use of glass in low door panels.
• Put fences around deep swimming pools to keep children away.
• Make sure swimming pools have an easy way of getting out.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy and check that it works periodically.
• Check furnishings to make sure they are not made from highly inflammable materials.
• Don't use a knife to get that piece of toast out of the toaster.
• If you smell gas don't look for it with a naked flame and don't switch a light switch or anything else electrical on.
• Check the power chords of electrical appliances (especially irons) regularly and don't procrastinate about fixing them.
• Check your house for cracks or other signs of damage.
• Look for heavy masonry on your house that could fall in an earthquake and get it removed.
• Don't ride a motorcycle, if you have to then always wear a helmet.
• Get yourself a guard dog.
• Make sure you have effective door locks but that you can get our in case of fire.
• If someone breaks in don't confront them, let them take what they want and go.
• Don't keep dangerous dogs such as Pit Bull Terriers or Rottweilers (yes I know, yours is a nice friendly one that wouldn't hurt a fly, I have a friend you should talk to about that).
• Put beer on the bottom shelf of the fridge, it keeps it colder and you can still reach in when you are rendered legless.
• Also consider that if you can't afford health insurance perhaps you should be living elsewhere.