Household Safety
Talking today amongst ourselves, we will share some important safety tips around the home. (TRANSCRIPT BELOW)
Most home safety tips talk about the importance of preventing fires, preparing against extreme weather and protecting the home from potential burglars. If you are a homeowner and have not taken precautions in any of these areas, the time to act is now.
Yet even though it’s important to prepare for large dangers, most household dangers are more subtle and require smaller fixes. For example, did you know that a carbon monoxide detector is one of the most important tools in protecting against hidden dangers? It alerts homeowners to the presence of a deadly odorless and colorless gas. Without it, residents would never know to evacuate.
Luckily, complete home safety is easy to achieve with a few simple steps. There are many ways to protect yourself, your family and your home from common risks and dangers.
PodcastDx-S8E6-Household Safety
Lita T 00:10 Hello, and welcome to another episode of podcast dx, the show that brings you interviews with people just like you, whose lives were forever changed by a medical diagnosis. I'm Lita
Ron 00:21 And I'm Ron
Jean 00:22 and I'm ready for some figgy pudding.
Lita T 00:24 I don't know what it is,
Jean 00:26 How about sticky toffee pudding.
Lita T 00:27 OK, that's Jean Marie. Collectively, we're the hosts of podcast dx and today's show, we are talking about household safety
Jean 00:36 And when I think of household safety, I tend to think about very young people, or you know, babies and actually baby proofing something I've heard of that.
Ron 00:45 (slight snicker)
Jean 00:45 And then in one's home, as well as older adults, and well not really like adult proofing or senior proofing. But, you know, you get the idea.
Ron 00:56 Well, no matter what the age range happens to be in your household, there are always things that we can do to make our homes a safer place to live. And nowadays, work and learn as well. Universal, inclusive designs can make our home safer and more functional for everyone. We're today we're going to talk about a few modifications, which may actually make your home safer. And here's a tip, you may even be able to get assistance and or funding for your home safety upgrades and improvements through some of your local social and senior programs, nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, or the International Red Cross and Crescent, maybe your local police and fire department or even your utility companies and such.
Lita T 01:46 Alright, I'm wondering if not the Red Cross Salvation Army, I wonder if they do anything.
Jean 01:53 But I know our local gas company will come out in and inspect your dryer and furnace and actually, there's programs here in Illinois, they will actually supply insulation,
Lita T 02:04 well we'll probably talk about that in the future
Jean 02:05 OK.
Lita T 02:07 Let's talk about let's start from the entrance of the home.
Jean 02:10 OK,
Lita T 02:11 we'll look like picture the home or the apartment or whatever. And we'll start at the entrance
Jean 02:16 OK
Lita T 02:16 so your entryway should be well lit at night.
Jean 02:20 mhhmm
Lita T 02:21 clear of debris. If your entry has stairs, you should take extra caution stairs can be a trip and fall hazard for anyone and are especially dangerous for older adults. The slightest variation is in a riser, which is the steps height or the tread depth, which is how far your foot we'll go into the step can greatly increase fall risks. Now, let me stop right there. If you have really big feet,
Ron 02:51 I thought we're stopping. (laughter)
Lita T 02:53 (laughter) OK.
Ron 02:54 Sorry, sorry,
Lita T 02:55 If you have a really large feet,
Jean 02:58 OK,
Lita T 02:58 then the tread depth. You know, there's a standard tread depth
Jean 03:03 There is a standard tread depth
Lita T 03:04 but it may not work for really large
Ron 03:07 right
Lita T 03:07 footed people,
Jean 03:08 but you're accustomed to a specific there are specific standards,
Lita T 03:13 right. So if you're kind of used to the specific standard, and then you come across a stair that's not to standard, it may cause you to fall
Jean 03:22 it. well, yeah
Lita T 03:23 There have been studies like the one by Mona Afifi, Belinda Park, and Mohamed Al-Hussein, titled "Integrated Approach for Older Adult Friendly Home Staircase Design", we'll have to put a link for that on our website,
Ron 03:39 yeah right
Lita T 03:39 which goes into great detail on how stairway design can affect safety.
Jean 03:45 And as this particular research article is often incorrectly cited by others online, we will, like you said include a direct link to it. And it's a compendium of specifics for stairways, because even like a 16th of an inch can cause someone to trip.
Lita T 04:03 Of course, I'm saying that but I'm not making a mark on it. So I'm not going to read my notes.
Jean 04:07 I have the article here to remind us.
Lita T 04:09 OK, good. Thank you.
Ron 04:11 One other thing that I'd like to add, though about the steps is It'd be great if you had a handrail because depending again, you mentioned like the size of your foot or what have you. But if you can securely grab a handrail that's going to help secure you more,
Lita T 04:28 Right, right.
Ron 04:30 So in general,
Lita T 04:30 I think there's a law, at least architecturally for if you have three or more stairs, you have to have a hand rail?
Jean 04:37 And yeah so but your local laws and codes vary,
Lita T 04:40 right
Jean 04:41 but it does behoove you to have one
Lita T 04:43 even with two stairs.
Ron 04:45 Right
Lita T 04:45 Even with two
Jean 04:46 even actually flat walkways in areas that can be icy or snowy ,
Lita T 04:50 Right, we've got one, right. So yes, Ron go ahead. Sorry. (laughter)
Ron 04:57 Again, it's just having a handrail is it's a safety precaution. You don't have to be older, whatever you just come over, you know, come off a surgery or something or whatever. It's just another safety feature that's all
Lita T 05:11 Yep
Jean 05:12 And you want to make sure that it's strong, secure and within hands reach.
Lita T 05:16 Right.
Ron 05:16 Yeah good point
Lita T 05:16 It should be in the right place. Yep. Yeah, you don't want it down like by your ankles.
Jean 05:21 I was thinking,
Lita T 05:22 (laughter)
Jean 05:22 if you have a very wide staircase.
Lita T 05:24 (laughter continues) OK,
Jean 05:25 you want to have a center rail as well?
Lita T 05:27 Oh, yes, that makes sense. Kim could have used that when she fell down the stairs
Jean 05:32 Well,
Lita T 05:32 at that theater.
Jean 05:33 She fell down the stairs at the theater because they were triangular steps. And those are the most likely to cause trips and falls.
Lita T 05:39 Oh, OK.
Ron 05:40 Yes it did!
Jean 05:40 and spiral staircases, yes it did.
Lita T 05:42 Yeah.
Jean 05:42 And she was trying to make sure that I was safe, which was extremely heartbreaking that, yeah
Lita T 05:47 well, alright, get back on the script.
Ron 05:49 (snickering laugh)
Lita T 05:49 If you happen to live in an area that has cold winter, like we do, you'll also want to make sure that your entry and walkways are free of ice and snow.
Ron 06:00 Right, right. And also, if you or someone in your household uses a wheelchair, you may want to have it professionally, a ramp professionally installed or a lift installed. But make sure that they do it by code.
Jean 06:16 Right, right.
Lita T 06:16 Good point. Yes. You don't just adlib on that. Because you're...
Ron 06:19 right
Lita T 06:20 …putting somebody is life in your hands. Whenever possible. Forget about scow, throw rugs, scow rugs?
Ron 06:26 (snicker)
Lita T 06:26 forget about throw rugs,
Ron 06:28 throw those rug away
Lita T 06:28 Throw those throw rugs away.
Ron 06:31 (laughter)
Lita T 06:31 The old dogs can be a tripping hazard and they should be avoided. And a throw rug is like a small little
Ron 06:38 area rug
Jean 06:30 area rug
Lita T 06:30 right? I call it a throw rug. Everybody calls it something different.
Ron 06:42 We're we're kind of near the same age range.
Lita T 06:45 Oh, I see. Yeah, some people call it area. If you do have a runner at your entrance, make sure that it's secure. And it will not shift when you walk in. And keep in mind that the slightest change in the level of flooring under foot may pose a tripping hazard
Jean 07:02 on to the kitchen.
Lita T 07:04 OK, and we're going to delete
Ron 07:05 the kitchen. That's a place that I'm not very familiar with. I'm getting though. But seriously in the kitchen, what we really mainly want to prevent are cuts and burns and fires and again slips and falls.
Jean 07:20 And actually also I guess I should have added poisoning.
Lita T 07:23 Oh, good point. OK, well to prevent cuts, make sure that your knives are sharp. Now this may sound counterintuitive,
Ron 07:31 (laughter)
Lita T 07:31 but Jean was Jean took professional cooking classes at le Cordon Bleu. And a doll knife may cause you to lose fingers because you're using more force when cutting and the blade may slip rather than cut whatever you're cutting, and then it'll slide right into your hand. Also use the right tool for the job. Don't use a knife as a can opener. Ron... (laughter)
Ron 07:59 (laughter) Have you been spying on me
Lita T 08:00 uhuhh. Use a can opener to open a can when using knives or other cutting implements, scissors Robo coups mandolins use a good cutting technique and form another safety tip don't throw sharp knives or other sharp objects into soapy depths of a dish pan or thow axes at a wall.
Ron 08:23 That's not..
Lita T 08:23 I've seen that that's
Ron 08:24 not on here.
Lita T 08:25 No, I know, I know but ..
Jean 08:26 keep axes out of the kitchen.
Lita T 08:28 (laughter)
Ron 08:29 Actually, can I mention one thing about knives, and this is something my forks and spoons and butter knives out like the butter knife. I'll put straight up when I do like a
Jean 08:31 yeah
Lita T 08:31 yes you mean in a like in a dishwasher?
Ron 08:41 Well not well in a dishwasher after I wash them to dry.
Lita T 08:44 Yeah,
Ron 08:45 the butter knife I'll go straight up. But if I'm doing like a steak knife, I put the point down because sometimes you put your arm over it or you scrape by it and again you're not gonna really hurt yourself with a butter knife
Lita T 08:55 Oh yeah, I always put I always put
Ron 08:57 right
Lita T 08:57 sharp points down
Ron 08:59 right
Lita T 08:59 just like my mother used to say when you're walking with scissors point down, same thing
Ron 09:03 right.
Lita T 09:04 I like to set my knives to the side of the sink and wash them one at a time.
Ron 09:09 OK.
Lita T 09:10 You'll want to store your knives safely
Jean 09:12 right that's what Ron was saying
Lita T 09:13 right? If you need to store them, like away from children or elderly that maybe may have Alzheimer's or have some type of another impairment or anything like that. You may want to store them in a locked drawer or cupboard to keep our cutting board from sliding around. We'd like to place a damp towel
Ron 09:32 Ohh!
Lita T 09:32 between the countertop and the cutting board
Ron 09:34 I like that.
Lita T 09:35 to keep it from shifting when cutting. Also, you may want to swap out your glassware or use silicone sleeves and your glassware to prevent broken glass in the home
Ron 09:47 that go around the outside so the cracks or breaks it doesn't shatter all over?
Jean 09:52 Right they actually make them too for insulin bottles.
Ron 09:54 Yeah,
Jean 09:55 because insulin is so expensive so they make silicone sleeves for it you can put in your insulin bottles.
Ron 09:59 OK
Jean 09:59 Yeah And now to help prevent fires, keep cooktops then hoods and ovens free of grease. You might hear about restaurant fires, that's often the culprit. And yeah, the grease can catch fire.
Lita T 10:11 We actually don't put paper nerdier stove.
Jean 10:14 Well I thought that was like a given...
Lita T 10:16 Well, you know, you know...
Jean 10:16 ...or drapery OK. OK. We like to toss the metal mesh filters for our cooktop vent into soapy water at least once a month. Because it's amazing how quickly grease can collect and those things in it. It's,
Ron 10:29 I never thought about that.
Jean 10:30 Oh, yeah, we bought when we were in North Carolina renting a house, the first thing I did was, you know, have the whole house cleaned. And I we looked up at the vent, and it was caked
Lita T 10:39 Coated, coated! With all this. I mean, you couldn't even... no. It wasn't even usable.
Jean 10:44 Yeah, it's good to check
Lita T 10:44 We threw those away. Yeah, (laughter) we got new ones
Jean 10:46 we got new ones.
Lita T 10:47 Yeah.
Jean 10:48 We also have small kitchen fire extinguisher. And if you do have fire in a pot or pan on the cooktop, you can usually smother the flame with the pot lid, or the pan lid rather than spraying it with a fire extinguisher that could actually spread the fire. Never leave anything cooking unattended never,
Lita T 11:06 never
Jean 11:06 never. And nowadays, there are actually devices that link your cooktop and your smoke alarm. So when the smoke alarm goes off, the electric or gas to your cooktop or range shuts off automatically. And there are also microwave ovens with preset time limits. Ours will only go up to six minutes. And this way, you don't accidentally turn on your microwave for let's say 90 minutes instead of 90 seconds like someone we know. And when it co...