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Safety housekeeping refers to keeping minor safety hazards at bay by maintaining basic safety practices. The following are good safety housekeeping measures. First things first, don’t keep clutter in front of doors, stairways or steps and make sure all cords are out of areas of travel to avoid trips. Keep things where they can be comfortably reached, or use a ladder or step-stool to safely retrieve them, and keep drawers, cabinets and cupboards closed when not in use. Your home probably has some potentially dangerous solvent and cleaners, so make sure chemicals or other hazardous materials are safely and properly stored. In the kitchen, keep appliances off or unplugged when not in use.

Perhaps one of the biggest safety hazards that can accompany homeownership are potential security threats. These can be fires, floods, loss of power, invasion or worse. In order to avoid a potentially tragic occurrence, you should be sure to maintain adequate home security by having a security alarm and door locking system employed at your home. To maintain fire safety, always have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home, and make sure to check the batteries and test them frequently.

It’s always beneficial to have an emergency action plan for your home, such as having an escape route, exit plan and emergency meeting place. Be sure to communicate these plans to all family members that live in the house, and only share house codes or house keys with those who you really trust. When going away from your home for long periods of time, don’t share on social media when you’ll be away. For additional safety, consider adding porch cameras, motion detector lights and cameras or video door locks.

Home fires can be extremely devastating if not life-threatening. While it’s difficult to live comfortably and conveniently while having eliminated all fire threats, there are steps you can take to ensure that high-risk home items are eliminated of potential risk. Never leave cooking unattended and keep stoves and counter surfaces free of clutter, grease and especially flammable objects like hairspray, bug spray or air freshener. Be sure to set a timer that will alert you when your cooking is complete since it is easy to forget. Additionally, wear tight clothes while cooking to ensure that nothing gets lit on fire. If you have a fireplace, candles or other sources of open flame, never leave it unattended, and place it on a non-flammable surface clear from any potentially flammable items.

Electricity, while incredibly convenient, can also pose a lot of safety risks if not adequately maintained. Use the following electrical safety tips to eliminate potential electrical hazards. Replace all damaged or frayed wires and cords, and throw out old or faulty appliances. Make sure to follow the correct procedures when replacing light bulbs. Never overcrowd your electrical outlets, use extension cords if necessary, and only buy electrical products evaluated by the nationally recognized laboratory (i.e. UL). The UL is OSHA approved to perform product safety testing so look for products with this seal of approval. Additionally, all electrical systems should be repaired or installed by a certified professional.

Your home should have all the typical emergency response items in an easy-to-access location. These items include:

• A first aid kit complete with band-aids, gauze, anti-bacterial wipes, eye patches, pain-reliever, etc.
• Medicines for common ailments such as upset stomach or colds
• Inhalers, if necessary
• Emergency numbers for contacts, doctors, hospitals or poison control centers
• Anything else that may be necessary for the unique needs in your home

Sure, it’s easy for someone to go around the house every so often and eliminate potential safety risks, but to maintain safety in your home, it starts by having open discussions and encouraging safe habits. Talk to your family members, visitors and neighbors about safe habits and teach your children that safety is an important practice.