Make yours a home sweet, safe home.
Electrical Cords and Outlets
- Check for frayed wires.
Repair or replace any loose or frayed wires on all electrical devices.
- Follow the path of cords.
No cords should run under rugs or across doorways.
- Baby-proof.
If you have any small children in your house, place plastic safety covers over unused outlets.
Related: Childproofing Checklist
- Rethink extension cords.
Consider adding electrical outlets where you currently rely on extension cords.
- Check for a faulty electrical system.
Feel all outlets and plugs to see if any are warm; if so, have an electrician check them.
- Don’t overload the system.
Make sure that you’ve followed manufacturers’ directions about maximum wattage of lamp bulbs and outlet requirements for plugs.
- And don’t overload any one outlet.
Be certain that you have no more than one high-wattage appliance plugged into a single outlet.
Home Heating
- Examine the outside vents.
They should be properly sealed and clear of obstruction to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the house. Recheck during and after a snowstorm.
- Pick the right wood.
If you use a fireplace or a woodstove, stock up on dry seasoned wood, which burns without producing a lot of creosote. A buildup of creosote—soot—in the chimney or flue can be dangerous, causing chimney fires.
- Hire a chimney sweep.
Have flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional annually.
- Inspect wood-burning stoves twice monthly.
Make sure the door latch closes properly. The room should have a working smoke detector. And never let a child use the stove unattended.
- Inspect water heaters annually.
The temperature should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns. Never leave children alone near a water heater, and keep combustible and flammable materials well away from it.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors generously.
These should be on each floor of the house, covering all sleeping areas.
- Test alarms monthly.
Replace any that don’t work. (In any case, alarms should be replaced every 10 years.)
- Replace batteries annually.
Or sooner, if the alarm chirps.
- Clean all detectors.
Vacuum each grille.
- Post the fire department’s carbon-monoxide-reporting emergency number.
If it differs from 911, keep the number by every phone.
- Demonstrate the sound of each detector.
Family members need to know the difference.
Fire Extinguishers
- Place extinguishers strategically.
Keep one in the kitchen and one on every floor. And learn how to use them.
- Replace extinguishers when necessary.
Follow the schedule suggested by the manufacturer, and always replace an extinguisher that appears damaged.
Related: When to Replace a Fire Extinguisher
- Consider installing a sprinkler system.
Escape Plans
- Create an escape plan with two exit routes in case of fire.
Practice it twice a year (once at night) with the whole family. For details, see the National Fire Protection Association’s website, nfpa.org.
- Choose a meeting place.
Set a plan for meeting up in case of a local or national disaster. See nfpa.org.
- If you live in a two-story house, buy a rescue ladder.
It should attach to an upper-level window casing to provide an alternate escape route.
In Homes With Small Children
- Lock the cabinets.
Install safety latches and locks.
- Install window guards on every window.
Make sure one window in each room can be used as a fire exit.
- Install safety gates .
Bar the top and bottom of stairs.
- Lock up hazardous materials.
Place any poisonous or hazardous products in locked cabinets. Post the poison-control hotline’s number (800-222-1222) by every phone.
- Make sure all your medicines and vitamins have childproof caps.
Store them out of children’s reach.
- Stow away sharp knives.
Scissors and cosmetic tools, too, as well as matches and plastic bags, should be kept out of children’s reach.
- Lock up any guns.
Be sure they are unloaded and separate from ammunition.
- Install padding on furniture with sharp edges.
And put doorknob covers on entry doors so kids can’t get out unattended.
- If you have a pool, fence it in.
A pool should be enclosed with a four-sided fence and a childproof gate.
- Teach children their address and how to dial 911.
As early as possible, children need to know these fundamentals.
Burglarproofing
- Install a sturdy deadbolt lock on every door to the outside.
This should include the door into the house from the garage.
- In any room with window bars, make sure at least one has a quick-release mechanism.
Replace or retrofit as needed.
- Install motion-sensing floodlights in the backyard.
- Keep your house looking lived-in when you’re away.
Arrange for the lawn to be mowed, stop mail delivery, install timers for selected lights, leave a car in the driveway, and leave drapes or shades open at least a bit.
- Advertise prominently any home security system you have installed.
You might think about putting up signs even if you don’t have a system.
- Examine your landscaping.
Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors that provide hiding places for burglars, and prune limbs that serve as ladders to upper windows.
- Purchase a metal bar or a solid-wood dowel to insert in the tracking of sliding glass doors.
This will prevent anyone from opening them.
- Put your street number, not your name, on your mailbox.
- Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend.
Thieves know all about fake rocks and other hide-a-key tricks.
Miscellaneous
- Make sure your house number is visible from the street.
It should be easily spotted, in case an emergency vehicle needs to look for it.
- Store flammable liquids away from any flame source.
It’s preferable to store them outside the house.
- Keep flammable objects away from the kitchen stove.
- Plug a rechargeable flashlight into a socket by your bed.
You’ll be able to light the way through smoke in a fire or signal to firefighters.
- Install nonslip decals or a nonskid tub mat in your tub.
- Put lights and light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Prevent falls in the dark.
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Paint the bottom basement step white so it’s more visible.
* Courtesy of Real Simple
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