Home Safety Tips

To make your home safer, you can make these simple, inexpensive changes:

Safer In-Home Mobility

• Reduce clutter inside and outside your home.
• Move anything that could cause slips or trips including doormats, throw rugs, wires and electrical cords.
• Be sure carpets are secured to the floor and stairs. Use non-slip rugs or attach rugs to the floor with double-sided tape.
• Have enough lighting in each room, at entrances, and on outdoor walkways. Use light bulbs that have the highest wattage recommended for the fixture.
• Good lighting on stairways is especially important. Light switches at both the top and bottom of stairs can help.
• Place a lamp within easy reach of your bed.
• Keep a flashlight by your bed in case the power is out and you need to get up.
• Arrange furniture to give you plenty of room to walk freely.
• Remove any furniture that could be a hazard (juts out, moves if leaned on, etc.)
• Install sturdy banisters or railing along both sides of stairs and walkways.
• Properly place and securely fasten grab bars in tub and show and next to toilet.
• Place everyday items within easy reach.
• Put reflector tape in hallways to create a path to follow at night.
• Put reflector tape on stairs.
• Widen treads and/or shorten stair risers.
• Replace outdoor steps with ramps.
• Put good night lights in bathroom.
• Avoid wet or newly polished floors.

Fire Safety

• Have smoke alarms on every level of house.
• Test every month so that you can hear from any room in house.
• Change batteries as needed.
• Have a fire escape plan that shows 2 ways out of every room.
• Make sure your escape plan works for everyone, including those who may use a wheelchair, a hearing aid, or glasses.
• Make sure exits are always clear and not blocked with furniture or other items.
• Put cigarettes out safely in an ashtray with a wide base that will not tip over.
• Never smoke around medical oxygen.
• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
• Check to make sure there are no electrical cords run under rugs.
• Check to make sure all electrical cords are in good condition and not broken or cut.
• Clean the dryer of lint after every use.

Other Precautions

• Put important emergency and medical phone numbers in large print next to phone.
• Keep contact information complete and up-to-date.
• Consider ordering a medical ID bracelet especially if you or a loved one has a chronic health issue. Information on medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma; drug and food allergies; prescribed medicines; and emergency contacts can be engraved onto the surface of these bracelets and pendants.

Sources: National Association of Senior Move Managers, National Institutes of Health and FEMA.