Home Safety Check List
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Home Safety Checklist Each year, many older Americans are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that in 1981, over 622,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday. CPSC believes that many of these injuries result from hazards that are easy to overlook, but also easy to fix. By spotting these hazards and taking some simple steps to correct them, many injuries might be prevented. Use this checklist to spot possible safety problems which may be present in your home. Check YES or NO to answer each question. Then go back over the list and take action to correct those items which may need attention. Keep this checklist as a reminder of safe practices, and use it periodically to re-check your home. This checklist is organized by areas in the home. However, there are some potential hazards that need to be checked in more than just one area of your home. These are highlighted at the beginning of the checklist and short reminders are included in each other section of the checklist.
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ALL AREAS OF THE HOME CHECK ALL CORDS QUESTION: Are lamp, extension, and phone cords placed out of the flow of traffic? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are cords out from beneath furniture and rugs or carpeting? YES ___ No ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are cords attached to the walls, baseboards, etc., with nails or staples? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are electrical cords in good condition, not frayed or cracked? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do extension cords carry more than their proper load, as indicated by the ratings labeled on the cord and the appliance? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK ALL RUGS, RUNNERS AND MATS QUESTION: Are all small rugs and runners slip-resistant? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: Remove rugs and runners that tend to slide. Apply double-faced adhesive carpet tape or rubber matting to the backs of rugs and runners. Purchase rugs with slip-resistant backing. Check rugs and mats periodically to see if backing needs to be replaced. Place rubber matting under rugs. (Rubber matting that can be cut to size is available.) Purchase new rugs with slip-resistant backing. NOTE: Over time, adhesive on tape can wear away. Rugs with slip-resistant backing also become less effective as they are washed. Periodically, check rugs and mats to see if new tape or backing is needed. QUESTION: Are emergency numbers posted on or near the telephone? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do you have access to a telephone if you fall (or experience some other emergency which prevents you from standing and reaching a wall phone)? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK SMOKE DETECTORS QUESTION: Are smoke detectors properly located? YES ___ NO___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do you have properly working smoke detectors? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND SWITCHES QUESTION: Are any outlets and switches unusually warm or hot to the touch? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do all outlets and switches have cover plates, so that no wiring is exposed? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are light bulbs the appropriate size and type for the lamp or fixture? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK SPACE HEATERS QUESTION: Are heaters which come with a 3-prong plug being used in a 3-hole outlet or with a properly attached adapter? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are small stoves and heaters placed where they can not be knocked over, and away from furnishings and flammable materials, such as curtains or rugs? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: If your home has space heating equipment, such as a kerosene heater, a gas heater or an LP gas heater, do you understand the installation and operating instructions thoroughly? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK WOOD-BURNING HEATING EQUIPMENT QUESTION: Is wood-burning equipment installed properly? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK THE EMERGENCY EXIT PLAN QUESTION: Do you have an emergency exit plan and an alternate emergency exit plan in case of a fire? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
KITCHEN CHECK THE RANGE AREA QUESTION: Are towels, curtains, and other things that might catch fire located away from the range? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do you wear clothes with short or close-fitting sleeves while cooking? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are kitchen ventilation systems or range exhausts functioning properly and are they in use while you are cooking? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: Indoor air pollutants may accumulate to unhealthful levels in a kitchen where gas or kerosene-fire appliances are in use.Use ventilation systems or open windows to clear air of vapors and smoke. QUESTION: Are all extension cords and appliance cords located away from the sink or range areas? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Does good, even lighting exist over the stove, sink, and countertop work areas, especially where food is sliced or cut? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do you have a step stool which is stable and in good repair? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
LIVING ROOM/FAMILY ROOM QUESTION: Are chimneys clear from accumulations of leaves, and other debris that can clog them? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Has the chimney been cleaned within the past year? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
PASSAGEWAYS QUESTION: Are halls, passages between rooms and other heavy traffic areas well lit? YES ___NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are exits and passageways kept clear? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
BATHROOM CHECK BATHTUB AND SHOWER AREAS QUESTION: Are bathtubs and showers equipped with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that are not slippery? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do bathtubs and showers have at least one (preferably two) grab bars? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Is the temperature 120 degrees or lower? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES QUESTION: Are small electrical appliances such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, etc., unplugged when not in use? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK MEDICATIONS QUESTION: Are all medicines stored in the containers that they came in and are they clearly marked? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
BEDROOMS CHECK CHECK AREAS AROUND BEDS QUESTION: Are lamps or light switches within reach of each bed? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are ash trays, smoking materials, or other fire sources (heaters, hot plates, teapots, etc.) located away from beds or bedding? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Is anything covering your electric blanket when in use? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do you ever go to sleep with a heating pad which is turned on? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Is there a telephone close to your bed? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
BASEMENT/GARAGE/WORKSHOP/STORAGE AREAS CHECK LIGHTING QUESTION: Are work areas, especially areas where power tools are used, well lit? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Can you turn on lights without first having to walk through a dark area? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK THE FUSE BOX OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS QUESTION: If fuses are used, are they the correct size for the circuit? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK APPLIANCES AND POWER TOOLS QUESTION: Are power tools equipped with a 3-prong plug or marked to show that they are double insulated? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are power tools guards in place? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Has the grounding feature on any 3-prong plug been defeated by removal of the grounding pin or by improperly using an adapter? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
CHECK FLAMMABLE AND VOLATILE LIQUIDS QUESTION: Are containers of volatile liquids tightly capped? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are gasoline, paints, solvents, or other products that give off vapors or fumes stored away from ignition sources? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
STAIRS CHECK LIGHTING QUESTION: Are stairs well lighted? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are light switches located at both the top and bottom of the stairs. YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Do the steps allow secure footing? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are steps even and of the same size and height? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Are the coverings on the steps in good condition? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Can you clearly see the edges of the steps? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: QUESTION: Is anything stored on the stairway, even temporarily? YES ___ NO ___ RECOMMENDATION: |
| REMEMBER PERIODICALLY TO RE-CHECK YOUR HOME
©1998 Prism Innovations, Inc. Reprinted with Permission |