Staying safe at home
Below are some things that can be done to help keep your home free from trip hazards and other dangers to your health:
- Avoiding leaving items on the stairs or on pathways inside or outside your home.
- Keeping flooring surfaces in your home in good condition, also ensuring rugs and mats aren’t rolled up on the edges.
- Highlighting the outer edge of steps with non-slip white paint to make them easier to see.
- Keeping your home well-lit and having a bedside lamp.
- Avoiding stooping to pick up letters from the floor by installing a letterbox cage.
- Avoiding trailing cables and clutter in your home.
- Using sturdy steps instead of standing on a chair.
- Wearing well-fitting footwear.
- Using a cordless kettle for boiling water.
- Using spout-filling or jug kettles.
- Checking the bathroom for slip-hazards before getting into the bath/ shower.
- Turning panhandles away from the front of the cooker when using the hobs.
- Checking hot water bottles for signs of wear before using them.
- Having gas appliances serviced annually by a Corgi registered heating engineer.
- Having any chimneys and flues swept once a year.
- Having fuel-burning devices checked regularly by an expert. A gas flame that normally burns blue turns orange may mean carbon monoxide build up – take immediate action.
