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June is Home Safety Month
Summer is the time of year when children are home from school and when
friends and family come together for summer activities, relaxation, and
vacation. It's the time of the year to find comfort from the heat in swimming
pools. It's a time for grilling hotdogs and hamburgers in the backyard.
Due to the potential safety hazards associated with summer activities,
the month of June is designated as Home Safety Month to prevent accidents
from getting in the way of "summer-time" fun! But remember that
the common injuries listed below and other home injuries can occur throughout
the year.
Home Safety Month Campaign
This year Home Safety Month has chosen the campaign "Hands on Home
Safety". This campaign encourages the community to take a "hands-on"
approach to create a safer home environment.
The Top 5 Leading Causes of Unintentional Home Injury Deaths:
- Slips & Falls
- Falls are the leading cause of unintentional home injury deaths
accounting for 33% of fatalities. [1]
- In Texas, 897 people died due to accidental falls in 2003. Twenty-two
of these deaths occurred in Collin County. [2]
- Falls account for more than 40% of all nonfatal home injuries.
[1]
Prevention
- Brighten the Lights
Use bright lights at the top and bottom of stairs and make sure
hallways and dark areas in the home are well-lit at night with nightlights.
- Secure the Bathroom
Install grab bars in the tub, shower and near toilets. Use a rubber
bath mat or non-slip strips in the tub. Wipe up spills and splashed
bathwater promptly.
- Guard Stairs and Steps
All stairs and steps need handrails along both sides, secured along
the full length of the stairway. Keep stairs and pathways clear
of clutter. In homes with babies and toddlers, use baby gates at
the top and bottom of stairs.
- Poisoning
- Unintentional poisoning is the second leading cause of home injury
death in the United States with an average of 4,833 deaths annually.
[1]
- Young- and middle-aged adults have the highest rate of unintentional
poisoning deaths while nonfatal poisoning rates are highest among
children less than five years old. [1]
- In Texas, 1,394 deaths were caused by accidental poisoning or
exposure to noxious substances. Twenty-seven of these deaths occurred
in Collin County [2]
Prevention
- Know the Number: 1-800-222-1222
Know the national poison control center toll-free number--1-800-222-1222
-- and keep the number by every phone in the home.
- Lock-Up Poisons
Look around your home-under the sink, in the garage-for cleaning
products and automotive fluids that say "Caution", "Warning" or
"Danger" on the label. Store these away from food, in locked cabinets,
and out of sight and reach of children.
- Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poison you can't see, smell or taste.
CO is produced by fuel-burning appliances and equipment in your
home. This equipment needs proper maintenance for safe use. Install
a carbon monoxide detector to alert you if the CO level becomes
unsafe.
- Fires & Burns
- On average 3,402 persons die each year as a result of a residential
fire or burn injury that occurred in the home making it the third
leading cause of home injury death. [1]
- Nearly 90 percent of all fatalities due to a burn or inhalation
injury are associated with residential fires. [1]
- In Texas, 226 deaths were caused by accidental exposure to smoke,
fire, or flames in 2003. One of these deaths occurred in Collin
County. [2]
Prevention
- Lower the Water Heater Temperature
Check the setting of your water heater and make sure it's set no
higher than 120oF.
- Put Working Smoke Alarms on Every Level of Your Home
Install smoke alarms on each level of your home especially in or
near sleeping areas. Test each smoke alarm every month by pushing
the test button until you hear a loud noise. Replace smoke alarm
batteries with new ones at least once each year.
- Plan and Practice a Home Fire Drill
Know how to escape a fire. Find two exits out of every room - the
door and possibly a window. Choose an outside meeting place in front
of the home. Practice your plan twice a year with all members of
the family.
- Choking and Suffocation
- Deaths due to choking and suffocation are the fourth leading cause
of home injury death in the United States, causing an average of
1,075 deaths per year. [1]
- More than 40 percent of the choking and suffocation deaths are
due to the inhalation or ingestion of food items (e.g., hard candy)
or nonfood objects (e.g., coins) that block breathing. Another 19
percent are due to suffocating in bedding materials or by a plastic
bag. [1]
- Young children and older adults have the highest rates of fatal
choking and suffocation injuries. [1]
Prevention
- Supervise young children while they are eating and playing.
- Look for product safety labeling which informs consumers
of potential choking hazards through age-appropriate labeling.
- Get instruction in providing first aid or appropriately
using the Heimlich Maneuver for choking.
- Drowning
- Unintentional drowning is the fifth leading cause of home injury
death in the United States, resulting in an average of 828 deaths
annually. [1]
- The death rate for drowning is highest in children younger than
5 and those ages 70 and older. [1]
- In Texas, 311 deaths were caused by accidental drowning in 2003.
Seven of these cases occurred in Collin County. [2]
Prevention
- Install four-sided fencing with a self-closing and self-latching
gate around home swimming pools.
- Use appropriate personal flotation devices according to
child's age, weight and size.
- ALWAYS supervise children around bodies of water.
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