Home Safety Checklist
What started out as 3 little home improvement projects ended up turning into a lot more. Has this every happened to you where you start a project and it turns into something much larger?! As the scope of the projects got bigger, so did the mess and clutter in my house.
I had to be very careful because of drop cloths and other items associated with the projects were all around. My mind was on a thousand things while this was going on, and of course, I was not always watching where I was walking. Then it happened. I tripped and fell, and my cereal bowl and spoon went flying. I had to eat in the living room at the time because my dining room table was covered. Thankfully, I didn’t hurt myself and nothing broke, but it got me thinking about safety and how important it is to have homes for our things so the risk of tripping and falling is minimized. In addition, less clutter equals less of a fire risk.
When I work with my clients, we always talk about safety. I don’t know of anyone who wants to fall and break a bone. Below is a Home Safety Checklist for your use.
Entrances and Exits
- Are the steps in good condition?
- Are handrails needed?
- Is the lighting bright enough?
- Can you see the house number?
- Are the locks working well?
Floors
- Are throw rugs secure?
- Can you easily walk around if there is wall-to-wall carpeting?
Kitchen
- Can you easily reach frequently-used items?
- Have you gotten rid of any expired food?
- Can you operate the stove, oven, and microwave easily?
Bedroom
- Do you have enough lighting?
- Can you get in and out of bed easily?
- Do you need a night light?
Bathroom
- Can you get on and off the toilet easily?
- Can you get in and out of the shower or bathtub easily?
- Are you using mats that are non-skid?
- Do you have enough lighting?
- Are grab-bars needed in the bathtub or shower?
Hall and Stairs
- Is there enough lighting
- Do you have sturdy handrails?
Electronics
- Are all electrical cords against the walls and not running across the middle of the rooms?
- Are the electrical cords frayed?
- Are remote controls near the TV’s or other devices that are being used?
- Are phones conveniently placed?
- Are emergency contact names and phone numbers near the phones or easily accessible?
Fire Safety
- Do you have a working fire extinguisher
- Do you have a working smoke detector?
- Can you easily open doors and windows?
So, go ahead and improve or renovate, but make sure safety is at the top of your list. When all is said and done, the end result is well worth the trouble. Just be careful during the process and get things in order as soon as possible when the projects are completed. Who knows, you may even find things to donate or trash.
Now is Your Time to Go from Bedlam to Brilliance!
Barbara Berman
856-912-0077
Referrals are the best compliments!
Serving South Jersey (including Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, and Mercer counties), North Jersey, and Philadelphia (including its surrounding counties).
