Simple Tips And Updates To Ensure A Home Safe Home

(HIT) - Home Safe Home... but is it?  According to the Home Safety Council (HSC), home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits every year, with the top three culprits including falls (#1), poisonings (#2) and fires and burns (#3).

Since we know these leading injury causes, we should be able to avoid them – right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. A recent HSC survey showed that while 92 percent of homeowners think about home safety often, only one-third were able to name a precaution they had actually taken at home.

It’s time to stop thinking and start acting! Start off the New Year by completing a few simple home updates to help protect you and your loved ones from these top home dangers.

Fight Against Falls

	Photo courtesy of Moen, Inc.

Did you know that a person who lives to be 75 years old will have spent an average of 1.5 years in the bathroom? That’s why it’s essential that this highly-used room be as safe as possible.  Grab bars are an easy and effective solution to avoiding falls. Products such as Moen® Home Care® Grab Bars with Integrated Accessories combine the safety benefits of a grab bar with three common bath essentials – a towel bar, a toilet paper holder and a shelf – making each bath functional and fashionable. And, to motivate you to install these products – not just think about it – each Grab Bar includes Moen Home Care’s patented SecureMount™ Anchors to quickly, easily and securely install the grab bars in just minutes.

Next, add a light-sensor nightlight in the bathroom – or in the hall outside the bathroom – to provide a well-lit path for nighttime visits to the restroom. The illumination will allow you to see where you’re going and avoid any potential tripping hazards in the path.

Prevent Poisoning
Accidental poisoning is the second leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths in the United States. In fact, more than two million poisonings are reported to Poison Control Centers each year – with the highest rates among children under age five. Luckily, preventing these poisonings can be simple. To start, do nothing!  That’s right – keep all cleaners, chemicals and medications in their original containers with labels to ensure that they are all used properly and not mistaken for another product.

Next, ensure that all poisonous items and medications are locked and out of reach of children. This can be as simple as adding child-proof locks on cabinets (which are simple for adults, but children are usually not coordinated enough to open) or purchase and install a medicine cabinet or storage cabinet with a built-in lock for added safety.

Banish Burns
Thank goodness 93 percent of adults report working smoke alarms in their homes. However, some burns occur without any smoke!  In fact, more than 112,000 emergency room visits occur each year from hot tap water scald burns. To prevent tap water burns, simply turn your hot water heater down below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, never leave potential fire hazards, such as space heaters, candles, irons, curling irons or food on the stove, unattended. Try replacing lit candles with battery-powered “flameless” candles or put your curling or flat iron in a protective case (or even a pot holder) when finished for added precaution.

In no time at all, your home will be better equipped to fend off the top three home safety hazards. For more information about Moen Home Care Grab Bars or other bath safety products, visit www.moen.com/homecare.

About Moen

Moen, the 2010 EPA WaterSense® Manufacturer Partner of the Year, offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed, on-trend kitchen faucets, bathroom faucets, bath accessories, showerheads, and stainless steel sinks for residential and commercial applications. As a WaterSense partner, Moen has aligned its priorities with the goals of the U.S. EPA, working to protect the future of our nation's water supply through the introduction and ongoing support of water-efficient products, programs and practices, while keeping consumers’ needs top-of-mind.

Customers have come to rely on Moen, the #1 faucet brand in North America, to deliver dependable products and service. Moen is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO, www.fortunebrands.com), a leading consumer brands company.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center

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