It can sometimes be difficult to remember all the little things we should be doing to keep our families safe. If there are children in your family, this is something you have often thought about. Observances have been set up at certain times of the year to encourage people to think about how to keep their families as safe as possible. June is Home Safety Month, for instance. For all you fellow parents out there, here are what I believe to be the top five hidden home dangers, along with my stay-safe solutions.
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer for good reason. You can't see it, and you can't smell it, but carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning. This gas can be produced in many ways, from a car running in a garage seeping into the home, to fireplaces, and also appliances that are malfunctioning.
The only real way to protect you and your family from this danger is to get a carbon monoxide alarm. Your home should have a detector on each level, basement included, and the sleeping areas should all have a detector. Check with your fire department to see what local and state laws require in terms of placement. And be sure to have your appliances checked regularly.
Your home must have fire extinguishers. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Foundation cracks don't sound scary but they can be deadly. If you're like many homeowners, you're probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Radon can actually enter homes with no basements through cracks near construction joints or service pipes.
Radon can be detected using a kit that can be purchased, as you won't be able to smell or see this gas.
Most people have no idea how quickly fires can spread in the home. You and your family may only have about two minutes after a smoke alarm sounds, to exit the home before the fire overtakes the entire structure. The smoke alarm will typically provide you with some time to escape, but you must also have a plan for your family to follow in such an emergency. In a recent survey, it was indicated that only 29 percent of families have gone over their emergency exit strategy.
Home theft is something that's frequently overlooked. You might think it'll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds. These are a few of the most effective ways to prevent thieves from gaining access to your home: solid core entry doors should be installed along with high-quality deadbolts; properly lighted entries; basement windows should be fitted with metal grates; if there are bushes in the yard, keep them trimmed neatly so they can't be utilized by thieves to hide in. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer for good reason. You can't see it, and you can't smell it, but carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning. This gas can be produced in many ways, from a car running in a garage seeping into the home, to fireplaces, and also appliances that are malfunctioning.
The only real way to protect you and your family from this danger is to get a carbon monoxide alarm. Your home should have a detector on each level, basement included, and the sleeping areas should all have a detector. Check with your fire department to see what local and state laws require in terms of placement. And be sure to have your appliances checked regularly.
Your home must have fire extinguishers. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don't leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.
Foundation cracks don't sound scary but they can be deadly. If you're like many homeowners, you're probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Radon is also odourless, and it is a radioactive gas that can move through the ground and seep into the home through the cracks in the foundation. Radon can actually enter homes with no basements through cracks near construction joints or service pipes.
Radon can be detected using a kit that can be purchased, as you won't be able to smell or see this gas.
Most people have no idea how quickly fires can spread in the home. You and your family may only have about two minutes after a smoke alarm sounds, to exit the home before the fire overtakes the entire structure. The smoke alarm will typically provide you with some time to escape, but you must also have a plan for your family to follow in such an emergency. In a recent survey, it was indicated that only 29 percent of families have gone over their emergency exit strategy.
Home theft is something that's frequently overlooked. You might think it'll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds. These are a few of the most effective ways to prevent thieves from gaining access to your home: solid core entry doors should be installed along with high-quality deadbolts; properly lighted entries; basement windows should be fitted with metal grates; if there are bushes in the yard, keep them trimmed neatly so they can't be utilized by thieves to hide in. A safe will keep your most valuable belongings secure, so getting one will help you feel safer.
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