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Home Safety

Every year, more than 4.5 million children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for injuries that occur in the home. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old. Fire and burn related injuries are the third leading cause of injury related death in children ages 1-14. Children are also at the highest risk for unintentional poisonings.

Fire Safety

  • Keep matches and lighters locked up.
  • Have a home escape plan with two exits in case of emergencies; practice the plan once a month.
  • Have a Class ABC fire extinguisher installed in plain view and know how to use it.
  • Have working smoke alarms on each level of your home and in each bedroom.

Water Safety

  • Never leave children unattended in the bathtub, pool, or around any water source for any reason.
  • Be sure someone in your home knows CPR.

Poisonous Materials

  • Keep medicines in their original containers and out of sight and reach of young children.
  • Keep hazardous products such as household cleaners, bug sprays, and fertilizers locked up and out of children's reach.
  • Flammable products such as gasoline, paint, and varnish must be kept in their original containers, away from heat sources, in an approved storage cabinet, and out of reach of young children.

General Safety

  • Set water heater at or below 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Guns and bullets must be locked up and kept separate from each other.
  • Keep weeds and brush cleared at least 20 feet away from the house.
  • Store gas barbecues away from the house; never use a barbecue grill on a covered patio.
  • If you live in an apartment, never use a barbecue grill in, on, or under covered balconies or walkways.
  • Never use any type of barbecue grill inside the home. It can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Have a working light outside each entrance of your home.
  • Never use extension cords for permanent wiring.
  • If an extension cord is going to be used, do not extend through walls, ceilings, floors, under doors, floor coverings (rugs), or furniture.

In an Emergency - DIAL 911.