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Home Safety Items Checklist: Products Every Household Must Have

Tags: checklist, clean air, fall prevention, fire safety, home safety, power outage, safety items, theft deterrents,

It’s not always easy to be quick on your feet in an emergency, but if you know you are prepared to handle whatever comes your way, you can take care of it without being flustered. Better yet, if you can foresee pitfalls, you can prevent them from happening to begin with. When it comes to your family’s welfare, you don’t want to overlook any must-have home safety items.
Once you know how to protect your family and your house, you can enjoy living in your home with a greater peace of mind.

Fire Safety Precautions

• Fire Extinguishers
A variety of fire extinguishers exist, and they serve different purposes. The basic extinguishers found in general retail stores, however, can fight all three types of fires: combustible, flammable liquid, or electrical, as noted on This Old House.

• Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors should be located in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

• A Water Hose
In addition to the obvious, a water hose will help you quickly put out small fires or wash away dangerous chemicals on the sidewalk or driveway.

 

Clean Air Devices

• Carbon Monoxide Detector
A carbon monoxide detector is an essential home safety item to have because carbon monoxide is odorless and tasteless. Without a detector, you won’t realize when carbon monoxide is present at dangerous levels.

• Radon Detectors
Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste. It is known as one of the top causes of lung cancer.

 

Theft Deterrents

• High-Quality Door Locks
Make sure you have reliable, quality door locks on the front door, back door, garage, shed, and anywhere else burglars might try to break in.

• Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting serves several purposes, including warding off burglars, preventing tripping, and beautifying your home.

 

Slip and Fall Prevention

• Night Lights
In addition to keeping the monsters away, as you may tell your children before bedtime, night lights will help you all avoid tripping.

• Welcome Mats
Not just for welcoming visitors to your home, no matter the conditions – rain, sleet, or snow – mats help to leave it all at the door and prevent slippery floors once you all are inside.

• Handrails
Especially if you have seniors, disabled individuals, or children in the home, handrails should be installed on both sides of every staircase. Regularly inspect them to make sure they are secure and not in need of repair or replacement.

• Step Stool
It may be tempting to stand on those weak chairs to reach high places in the home, but don’t do it. Keep a sturdy step stool nearby to prevent falls and other injuries, such as a sprained back.

 

General Home Safety Items you Should Have

• Emergency Evacuation Plan
Consult with your local fire department for help in preparing and practicing an emergency evacuation plan for your specific home. Make sure it is in a written format that is displayed clearly in your home. The plan should include an escape route, instructions, and emergency contact phone numbers. Don’t forget, practice makes perfect.

• First Aid Kit
You never know where you will be when a first aid kit is needed, but everyone in your household should know where it is. A good place to store it is a dry area in the kitchen, where your family spends a lot of time. First aid kits should include antiseptic wipes, antibacterial ointment, various sizes of adhesive bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, pain relief medication, antihistamine, tweezers, safety pins, scissors, a thermometer, and a first aid manual. (You can find more information about what to include in a first aid kit on the American Red Cross website.)

• Window Blind Cord Hooks
Children and pets can strangle themselves on cords from blinds, so raise the cords onto hooks high up on the wall near the valance.

 

In Case of Power Outages

• When the lights go out, a battery-powered flashlight will be especially handy. Have a flashlight in every room of the house, and make sure every person who lives in the home can easily find one.

• Batteries
Because you need them for the flashlights, and maybe for household toys and games that will keep you entertained while the lights are out.

 

Our Singh homes are built with only the highest quality materials, and our construction processes meet all state and national standards. But we all know emergencies happen. Having home safety items within your reach will help you respond quickly and wisely.
For more information about Singh Homes, contact us through our website.