Are YOU safe?
A Home Safety Checklist
Each year 3 million people will need hospital treatment for home accidents. Home accidents can completely change people’s way of life and could reduce their independence. You could help to safeguard yourself and others, by completing this checklist, and by seeking advice on any areas where you need help to make your home a safer place in which to live.
General
Do you have at least one smoke detector fitted and working?
Do you have a lockable medicine store?
Do you have gas appliances checked and serviced regularly?
Are floor surfaces non-slip, securely fixed and in good repair?
Are matches and lighters kept out of sight and reach of children?
Are window locks fitted and in use?
Are doors and low-level windows fitted with safety glass or film?
Are there enough sockets available to prevent over loading?
Are exposed sockets fitted with socket covers?
Do you remove ashes from solid fuel fires in a safe manner?
Do you dispose of unnecessary or outdated pills and medicines?
Kitchen
Every day about 60 people will have a serious accident in the kitchen, and 37% of
burns and scalds happen to the under 5’s.
Is the kitchen laid out with clear work surfaces beside the cooker and sink?
Do you turn panhandles in and well clear of hotplates?
Does the electric kettle have a “curly” or short flex?
Is storage easy to reach without straining?
Do you have a pair of sturdy steps?
Do you ensure that your cupboards and shelves are not overloaded?
Do you keep tea towels away from cookers?
Do you mop up spills immediately?
Are household cleaners stored in a secure place?
Do you stop children playing in the kitchen whilst you are cooking?
Do you stop children playing near the iron while it is still hot or in use?
Are sharp knives and scissors stored safely?
Do you have a well-equipped first aid kit?
Are all drawers and cupboards closed when not in use?
Do you empty the waste bin before it becomes over full?
Living & Dining Room
About 15% of home accidents happen in this area and at least one child per week
die in a house fire.
Do you make sure there are no trailing or damaged flexes or plugs?
Is the furniture arranged so that you can move around easily?
Is the back of the TV set away from curtains and soft furnishings?
Where necessary, is there a fixed fireguard?
Is the floor clear of clutter?
Do you make sure hot meals and drinks are not left in reach of children?
Do you make sure that the tablecloth does not overhang the table?
Is alcohol kept out of the reach of children?
Hall & Stairs
Everyday more than 80 adults will be hurt by a fall on the stairs, and around 800
children are injured in falls, many of which also happen on the stairs.
Are doorways, hall stairs and landing well lit and free from clutter?
Are two-way switches fitted?
Is the lighting adequate?
Do shoes and slippers fit properly?
Is there a handrail fitted on the stairs?
When children are there, is a safety gate fitted and in use?
Are banister rails close enough to stop children falling through?
Bathroom
Around 60 people every day need hospital treatment because of an accident in this
room, whilst once a fortnight one child under the age of 5 die from drowning.
Do you run the cold water before the hot?
Do you have a non-slip bath mat?
Are grab rails fitted beside the bath and toilet?
Do pull cords control the bathroom light and heater?
Have you somewhere to sit if you feel dizzy?
Are children supervised all the time at bath time?
Bedroom
Each week there are over 900 accidents in the bedroom and every year, over 40,000
children accidentally swallow pills and chemicals.
Do you appreciate the dangers of smoking in bed?
Do you keep a bedside lamp or torch handy at night?
Do you lock medicines away after use?
Are electric blankets in good condition, checked regularly, and switched off before
you get into bed? (Unless specially designed to be left on)
Are heaters fitted with a guard?
Is furniture kept away from windows?
If you have bunk beds, are safety bars and a secure ladder in use?
Are cosmetics and perfumes/aftershaves out of reach of children?
Outside & Garden
Over 95,000 accidents happen in the garden or just outside the home and 40
children each day are treated for an animal bite.
Do you use a circuit breaker with powered tools and mowers?
Is the ground smooth and level with a clear walkway?
Are garden paths and steps clear from clutter?
Are garden tools and the lawnmower in good repair and tidied away after use?
Are operating instructions always used and followed?
Are garden chemicals stored in a lockable place in correct containers with
easy to read labels?
Is the greenhouse or cold frame accessible to children?
Are all fences and gates secure to prevent children from wandering?
Is play equipment secure, well maintained and sited over a soft surface?
Do you use a “fly net” over the babies’ pram?
Have you checked for any poisonous plants or berries in the garden?
Are children supervised in the paddling pool and near any garden ponds?
If you say “No” to any of these questions,
please take action at once to make
your home a safer place to live in.