The Big Five Baddies
Home Safety
March 4, 1998

In the time it takes you to read this collection of articles (about 10 minutes), two people will be killed and about 390 will suffer a disabling injury, according to the National Safety Council. The cost of these injuries from lost pay, medical expenses, and damaged property will be about $8.4 million.

And guess where most of these accidents will happen? Yep, that's right. At home.

So what can a Foolish Family do to make sure that they're safe and secure? Check out our list of the "Big Five Baddies" that account for over 80% of all home accidents, get help from the websites we've included links to, and make sure that your little abode gets the Foolishly Safe stamp of approval.

Poison

Poisoning accounts for more home accidents than any other danger. And who is most at risk? Munchkins who can't read. Make sure that all substances in your house that could cause problems are out of reach of the children. These include things like medicines (both prescribed and over the counter), cleaning solutions, and home renovation products like paint and paint thinner. You'd be surprised how appetizing green paint looks to a three year old.

Introduce your child to "Mr. Yuk," a smiley faced sticker that's having a bad day. Mr. Yuk sticks his tongue out to let kids know that the bottle he's stuck to is bad news. You can get 12 Mr. Yuk stickers for only a quarter from the Maryland Poison Center (MPC). (They're free if you live in Maryland!) Let your little explorer know that anytime he sees Mr. Yuk he should stay far away.

Would you know what to do if someone in your home came into contact with poison? Click here to find out from the MPC how to handle a poisoning in your home.

The kind of munchkins with four legs and curious muzzles won't understand the Mr. Yuk stickers as well as their Homo sapiens counterparts do. As anyone with a dog knows, they'll eat almost anything. Things like flowering plants, sweet smelling cleaning products, and even anti-freeze can be dangerous for little Sparky. For tips on keeping your furry children safe from bad stuff, check out this site for The AVMA Pet Poison Guide, courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Falls

Falls rival poisoning as the number one home accident in our country. And most frequently it's the Fools at the other end of the age spectrum that are most at risk from accidental tumbles. Make sure that small items like toys aren't left on the floor for grandparents to trip over. Also, make sure that water from baths or kitchen spills is wiped up right away. If those in your house are highly susceptible to falls check out the special flooring treatment made by companies like Safe Steps. Also, if you have an elderly person in your home and decide to get a security system, get one with a beeper-like device that can be carried and used to summon help should that person fall while alone.

Fire and Burns

Does everyone in your family know what to do in case of a fire? Where are the exits in your house? What do you do if you smell smoke? How safe are the appliances in your home? Can the kids reach the stove or grill? Do they know not to touch them without your help? How about your smoke detectors? Are they all working and in strategic locations to cover your entire home? For help in going through your house and looking for the tell-tale signs, check out theFire Safety Information web site. It offers lots of information on teaching your kids what to do in case of a fire and first-aid tips to use until more help arrives.

Choking

Do you know how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver? Choking is one of the biggest causes of death among children under five. Did you know that the Heimlich Maneuver is performed differently on a small child than on an adult? If you'd like practice, check out your local Red Cross or YMCA for classes on the Heimlich Maneuver or first aid. They're frequently free and offered regularly. If you'd like an online source for how to perform the Manuever, check out the Choking Adult and Choking Child pages courtesy of the Arnot Ogden Medical Center.

Firearms

And lastly, we'll wrap up our look at home danger with some sobering statistics. Half of all homes in America have a gun. Last year over 4,200 kids under 18 were killed with a firearm. And 90% of all accidental shootings involving children are linked to an easily accessible loaded firearm in the home.

The easy answer is to not have a gun in your home. The folks at Not One More, which aims to save young people from gun violence, feel that it's best to educate your children about guns so that if they encounter them in someone else's home they will know what to do. (Or rather, what not to do.) Check out their site for how to talk to your child about firearms. If you already have a gun in your home, educate your kids on how to be safe with it. Contact the National Rifle Association for information on their Eddie Eagle Program, aimed at teaching firearm safety to the munchkin crowd.

Whew! Feeling a little shaky with all these things to worry about? Well, you're not done yet! Don't forget to check out our 10 Foolish Security Tips for some info on dangers that come from bad people instead of the dangers that just come from you and your carelessness.

-- Trudy Bowen (TMF Hoyden)