Introduction
The responsibility of fixing the identified hazards to create a warm home for everyone to thrive. The environment is expected to be safe, but there are some common injury hazards that residents should take into consideration. Following is a list of some obvious and hidden safety hazards that should be mitigated.
Fire hazards
Every person and pets at home at the risk of injury when a fire occurs. The potential hazard to the body is burning when an unintended fire breaks up burning a section of or the entire house. The most common protective factor for the hazard is the installation of fire alarms to alert or warn in case a fire breaks out (Holtzman, 2009). Everyone should be careful when using fire and ensure that all appliances and outlets are in proper working condition.
Falls
The most at-risk individuals in terms of this risk are children especially toddlers and the elderly. The hazard calls injuries when one experiences an abrupt fall that could hurt any part of the body. Protective factors include providing support for toddlers and the elderly when moving around the house (Keall et al., 2015). The hazard can further be eliminated by avoiding installing slippery floors in the rooms used by these individuals. Staircases should have handrails and adequate lighting, and bathrooms secure rags to avoid slipping.
Sharp Objects
The objects are necessary but they can cause harm to any person in the house through accidents. The hazard causes harm through cutting because of the sharp edges. Protective factors relating to this hazard include keeping the objects safely and out of reach of those who should not use including children (Holtzman, 2009). These objects can be locked away whenever they are not in use.
Chemicals and Detergents
The risk hazard is most likely to cause harm to small children by accidentally consuming them. The most effective protective factor is to ensure that these substances are kept out of the reach of young children (Holtzman, 2009). They should also be kept in safely closed containers and properly labeled for those who can read.
Windows
Children are at the risk of falling through the window or getting injured by window cords. The latter fitted on blinds or curtains could be a strangling hazard especially if the children can reach them (Holtzman, 2009). Parents should avoid placing anything close to a risky window that children can use to reach it such as baby cots. As much as possible, parents should prevent dangling cords when fitting windows.
Choking Hazards
Choking can affect anyone in the house, but it is a greater hazard to children. The accident occurs when food goes down the wrong way or they accidentally swallow small items such as toys. Small toys and hard foods pose the greatest danger (Brandenburg, 2000). Feeding should always be supervised to prevent such accidents. Parents and caregivers should ensure that toys do not have breakable parts, they are not small enough to swallow, and that they are stored safely when not in use.
Conclusion
Health hazards at home are common which necessitates care to make the environment safe for all the residents. Children and the elderly are at the greatest risk around the house, therefore, they should always be supervised and watched. Necessary preventive factors should be adopted around the house to increase safety.
References
Brandenburg, M. A. (2000). Child Safe: A Practical Guide for Preventing Childhood Injuries. New York: Three Rivers Press
Holtzman, D. S. (2009). The Safe Baby, Expanded and Revised: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living. Boulder, CA: Sentient Publications.
Keall, M. D., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P., Cunningham, C., Cunningham, M., Guria, J., & Baker, M. G. (2015). Home modifications to reduce injuries from falls in the Home Injury Prevention Intervention (HIPI) study: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 385(9964), 231-238.
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