100 Things to Make Your Home Safer in One Minute or Less

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. Not sure how to Commit a Minute to Safety? Pick one, 10 or 100 of the things below and get started today. You’ll see that sometimes it just takes a minute to avoid what could be a lifetime of regret.

1. Test each smoke alarm in your home

2. Replace the batteries in each smoke alarm

3. Count how many smoke alarms you have in your house. If you do not have one on every level and near sleeping areas, purchase additional smoke alarms

4. Designate an outside meeting place for your family (for example: the mailbox) in case of a fire or emergency

5. Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep

6. Use a sturdy candle holder or hurricane lamp

7. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns

8. Roll up your sleeves before you start cooking

9. Have oven mitts nearby when cooking

10. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove

11. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children

12. Put hot food and drinks near the center of the table only

13. Put down your hot drink when carrying your baby

14. Test hot water with an elbow before allowing a child to touch

15. Post your fire escape plan on your refrigerator

16. Put water on cigarette butts before throwing them away

17. Unplug small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters after using them

18. Use flameless candles

19. Move anything that can burn, such as dish towels, at least three feet away from the stove

20. Practice “Stop, Drop and Roll” with your kids

21. Schedule an appointment to have your furnace cleaned and inspected

22. Look for the UL Mark when you buy appliances

23. Tell kids to stay away from the stove/oven

24. Turn space heaters off before going to bed

25. Remove any gasoline from your home

26. Put non-slip strips in your tub and shower

27. Install night lights in the hallway

28. Put a flashlight in each bedroom

29. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent slips and falls

30. Use a sturdy Christmas tree stand

31. Water your Christmas tree every day

32. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat source

33. Inspect your Christmas lights for signs of damage

34. Flip over large buckets so water cannot accumulate and become a drowning danger

35. Store cleaners and other poisons away from food

36. Post the Poison Control hotline number (1-800-222-1222) next to your phone

37. If you have young children, use cabinet locks on cabinets that have poisons such as antifreeze, cleaners, detergents, etc.

38. Keep medicine in its original containers

39. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home

40. Test your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm

41. Put your infant to sleep on his/her back

42. Remove any soft bedding, stuffed animals and pillows from your infant’s crib

43. Cut your toddler’s food into small bites

44. Use safety straps on high chairs and changing tables

45. Check www.recalls.gov to see if any items in your home (including cribs) have been recalled

46. Move cribs away from windows

47. Use safety covers on unused electrical outlets

48. Test small toys for choking hazards – if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it’s too small

49. Remove all plastic bags from the nursery

50. Pick up any small items, such as coins or buttons, that can be choking hazards for infants and toddlers

51. Write down emergency contact information for your family and make sure everyone has these numbers

52. If young children live in or visit your home, move furniture away from windows so they don’t climb up to look out and accidentally fall

53. Tie window cords out of a child’s reach

54. Check your child’s bath water temperature (use your wrist or elbow) to make sure it is not too hot

55. Remove drawstrings from your baby’s clothing

56. Keep the toilet lid shut to prevent little fingers from getting slammed by a falling lid

57. If you have toddlers, install a toilet seat lock

58. If you have young children, install door knob covers on bathroom doors

59. Use a fireplace screen

60. Put toys away after playing

61. Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as “candy”

62. Put on safety glasses before any DIY project

63. Put tools away after your DIY project is complete

64. Post emergency numbers near your phone

65. Pick up one new thing for your family’s emergency preparedness kit

66. Use a ladder, not a chair, when climbing to reach something

67. Use plastic instead of glass near the pool

68. Cover any spa or hot tub when it is not in use

69. Purchase a first aid kit

70. Drain the bath tub immediately after bathing

71. Remove clutter from the stairs

72. Use the handrail when you are walking up or down the stairs

73. If the power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles

74. Ask smokers to smoke outside

75. Wear proper shoes when climbing a ladder

76. Check your home for too many plugs in one socket and fix the problem

77. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have young children

78. Never leave food cooking unattended

79. Make sure pools or spas are properly fenced to keep out small children

80. Teach kids to tell you when they see matches or lighters

81. Turn out the lights when you leave the room

82. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use (especially in the kitchen)

83. Take your hair dryer off of the bathroom counter and store it safely

84. Check your electronics for the UL Mark

85. Identify two exits from every room with your kids in case of fire

86. Check your holiday decorations – keep breakable decorations out of reach of young children

87. Replace an old light bulb with a new energy-efficient option

88. Check the walls for loose paint chips and re-paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint

89. Check all the outlets in your home for overloaded sockets or extension cords

90. Remove any extension cords that are pulled under rugs or tacked up

91. Place fire extinguishers in key areas of your home

92. Place an escape ladder in an upstairs room that might not have an easy exit

93. Remove any painted furniture that is pre-1978 to avoid possible lead exposure

94. Lock medications safely in a cabinet

95. Consider low-flow toilets

96. Check that all major appliances are grounded and test your GFCIs

97. Clean the lint trap and hose on your dryer

98. Check your swing set for sharp edges or dangerous S-hooks

99. Take a tour of your home from your child’s perspective looking for hazards

100. Hold a family fire drill.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

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