5 Easy Ways to Protect Your Family's Health in the Home

While most of us view our homes as secure and safe environments, potential dangers lurk all around. There can be plenty of health hazards inside, but luckily, you can address most of these quite simply. Here is a short guide to five commonly-found safety hazards and how to resolve them.

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Purified Water
Tap water is treated to reduce the number of contaminants, such as bacteria, viruses, lead, mercury, and other pollutants. Nevertheless, for various reasons, some of these and other nasties may still find their way into the water supply, either by accident or because of poor infrastructure. With a whole house water filtration system, you will not have to worry about these pollutants ever ending up in your tap water. 

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Fire Prevention
In 2016, there were over 352,000 home fires in the US. Even with billions of dollars in property damages, as well as over 10,000 injuries and nearly 3,000 deaths, this figure pales in comparison to 1980, when there were over 734,000. This steep drop in home fires is a direct result of various preventive measures taken to reduce the risk.

Prominent among these, is the widespread use of fire and smoke alarms, which can detect a potential catastrophe early and alert you in time to avert it. Another common fire prevention initiative is to inspect your home's electrical wiring, especially in older homes, to ensure that no fire risks exist. If you have burning candles around the house, make sure that they're not close to flammable materials, are safely out of reach of children and pets. If you have fireplaces in your home, ensure that they are checked and regularly cleaned and maintained to avoid any nasty emergencies.

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide (CO) is invisible and odourless, making it undetectable to the senses. High concentrations can cause dizziness, vomiting, impaired vision, or even death. One way to prevent this gas from reaching dangerous levels inside your home is to install a CO detector. As a preventive measure, on the other hand, check for any carbon monoxide leaks by scheduling regular inspections on HVAC systems, water heaters, fireplaces or any other appliances that use wood, gas, oil, or coal, as fuel. 

Trips and Falls
When it comes to our senior citizens, trips and falls account for over a quarter of all accidents around the house. In fact, over 2.8 million older people over the age of 65 are rushed to the emergency room for these sorts of injuries. There are several ways that you can mitigate this risk, especially if you have a senior or toddlers living with you.

For starters, you will need to stabilise and secure your staircase. Make sure that the railing is rigid, the stair treads aren't slippery and the carpeting isn't loose. Likewise, make sure that there is enough lighting available. External staircases also need to be addressed by keeping them clear of hazards such as ice and snow. Add some grip tape for extra security. 

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Air Quality
Carbon monoxide is not the only pollutant lurking in the air. Depending on the time of day, the activities that happen inside and numerous other variables, indoor air quality can vary significantly. All sorts of airborne particles, such as allergens, mold spores, or radon, can find their way inside and can be detrimental to your health. Proper ventilation is required, either by natural or artificial means. Likewise, it is a good idea to have your air quality tested, to discover any underlying sources. Also, it is a good idea to invest in a few indoor plants that purify the air.

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Keeping your home safe and secure is easy with the proper knowledge and understanding of potential risks. if you have any other tips, do share with us in the comments below.

Till next time... protect your family's health in your home!

xox

Rani

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