As much as our house is where we spend the most time, it is not always the safest place for children and adults, but we take some care to prevent domestic accidents. Although all family members have the same chances of suffering an incident, according to WHO data, women over 45 years of age have a higher prevalence of accidents within the home, followed by young children around 4 to 10 years.
Among the main accidents in the home we can find:
- Falls in the bathroom and kitchen due to the humidity of the floors during their use.
- Cuts and accidents in the kitchens with knives or other dangerous objects found within this area.
- Incidents caused by fires in stoves that are left on, candles that are lit inside the home or items such as incense, which are neglected and can even cause fires.
- Slips in the kitchen due to the grease that falls on the floor when cooking.
- Falls in the shower due to loss of balance or slipping on the soap.
- Tripping and falling when hitting or standing on objects that are scattered around the house.
- Poisoning from cleaning products or chemicals that are not stored properly.
- The prevention of accidents within the home reduces their occurrence by up to 70%, taking adequate security measures and awareness of potential dangers.
Good practices
Some practices that we can implement to prevent accidents at home are the following:
- Kitchen area:
- Place an absorbent mat at the foot of the stove and the sink to collect grease and water residue and prevent it from falling on the floor.
- Keep knives and sharp objects in a restricted area and out of the reach of children. In the case of knives, try to use those that have linings or covers for the edge and the tips, which helps to avoid cuts.
- Check that the kitchen is turned off when you finish preparing food, also check appliances such as irons and ovens, as far as possible keep them unplugged from electricity when not in use.
- Bathroom area:
- Use an absorbent mat at the exit of the shower that allows you to dry your feet immediately and avoid slipping.
- Place grab bars on the shower walls that allow you to hold yourself in case of slipping.
- Do not lather both feet at the same time.
- Have disposable towels on hand to wipe up any dripping water inside areas such as the sink or toilet to avoid slipping.
- Rest of the house:
- Avoid walking home in the dark at night.
- Have specific spaces or drawers to store objects and prevent them from being scattered on the floor.
- Pay attention to areas susceptible to water or objects that can trip such as gardens, terraces or garages.
- With children:
- Prevent them from entering the kitchen area, and if they must enter, do not do it alone.
- Try to keep bathrooms dry so they don't slip and fall.
- In the play areas, have drawers for them to store objects and create a culture of order to avoid accidents.
Whether your home is a safe place for you and your family depends entirely on the measures to prevent accidents at home that are taken and applied effectively.
