By Nicole Nichols-West / Jan 1, 2021 / 27 tasks
Most accidents happen right inside the home and because most of them could have been prevented with a little foresight, we've created this home safety checklist to help you look for those hidden hazards that you may have overlooked. You don't expect to have to be on your guard every minute of every day when you're in your own home. Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary from the cold, cruel world. The one place you can relax and let down your defenses. So we've created this home safety checklist to help you make your castle a little friendlier place to live.
But the U.S Home Safety Council estimates that 20,000 people die and 21 million people require medical care each year in the United States alone due to accidents that happen inside the home. A lot of these accidents could be prevented if people would just use their common sense. For example, everyone knows you should not use your barbecue grill in an enclosed space. You may either start a fire or be overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. Yet, according to the Insurance Information institute, grilling accidents cause more than 2,000 fires and at least 30 deaths every year in the United States. Some of the most common household accidents are also the easiest to prevent and the statistics are alarming. For example 150 people stab themselves everyday when trying to open a jar or a package with a knife. Nearly 30,000 people every year amputate a finger, generally because they get them caught in doors or drawers. And more than 60,000 people are hospitalized each year due to burn related injuries. And of those, at least 5,000 people die every year. Clearly, we’re taking the safety of our own homes for granted.