Safe at Home: 5 Ways to Protect Your Family and Friends

I read in the Spring 2007 USAA Magazine that Americans seek medical care more than 20 million times each year as a result of injuries in their homes. How can you prevent this from happening to your loved ones?

Here are five simple ways to reduce your risk:

1. Set your water heater's temperature to no more than 120 degrees (prevent burns)
   


2. Use night lights to illuminate stairs, hallways and bathrooms (prevent tripping/falls)



3. Keep shredders away from children, never let a child operate one (prevent loss of skin, limbs, etc)



4. Use a nonslip mat or safety strips in the showers and tubs (prevent falls)



5. Don't place items on stairways - even temporarily (prevents falls)

If you find that you already do these five things, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, try to incorporate these changes ASAP. Check out HomeSafetyCouncil.org for more information.

Photos courtesy of HomeSafetyCouncil.org