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Front and Back Entrances Make your address easy to see for better emergency access. Keep walkways to your front door and back door even and free of cracks and holes. Ensure entrances to your home are well-lighted. Use nonskid strips or safety treads, or rough textured paint on outdoor steps. Keep doormats in good condition with a nonskid backing and a tapered edge. Doors should open and close easily. Have a shelf or bench by the front door and back door for grocery bags or other packages to ease entry. Make sure you can see who is outside without opening the door. Throughout the House Living areas should be well-lighted. You should be able to turn on a light without having to walk into a dark room. Keep lamp, extension and phone cords out of traffic. Clear all walkways of objects and clutter. Arrange furniture so you can move around easily. Have nightlights throughout the house. Windows should open and close easily. Put decals on glass doors so you know when are closed? Securely attach loose area rugs and runners the floor, and do not use them over carpeting. Keep flooring or carpeting in good repair and free of holes. Rugs should be of low pile, not shag. Thresholds should be level with the floor and no more than 1/2" in height. Furniture should be steady and without sharp edges. Have chairs and couches high enough so you can sit and stand easily. Bathrooms You should be able to unlock your bathroom door from both sides. Your shower or tub should have a nonskid surface; or a mat, decals or abrasive strips. The bathroom should be equipped with grab bars -- properly installed in studs -- at the tub, toilet or shower. Grab bars should be a different color than the wall for easy visibility. Never place a towel on your grab bars. Soap dishes in your bath should be recessed. Faucets should be clearly marked "Hot" and "Cold." The temperature of your water heater should be set no higher than 120F degrees. Stay in the bathroom any time water is running. The floor should have a nonslip surface, or the rug a nonskid backing. Light should be bright enough to easily see and read labels on medication. Medications should be clearly marked and in their original containers. A hand-held shower in the tub can make bathing easier. Have a bathtub transfer seat, if you have difficulty getting in and out of the tub. Avoid using bath oils while bathing; they increase the risk of slipping. The threshold of the shower should be marked with a textured tape in a contrasting color. The bathroom should be well-ventilated to prevent moisture build-up. Small appliances should be left unplugged and away from sinks and bathtubs. Fire Safety Have several emergency exit plans in case of fire. Properly locate smoke detectors on each floor. Test your smoke detectors on a regular basis, and replace batteries according to the manufacturer's direction. Keep the furnace area free of things that might catch fire. If you use a portable space heater, keep it at least three feet away from flammable items, (curtains and furniture), and it should have an auto-off feature if tipped over. Have a qualified professional check your furnace and chimney each year before the heating season. Have appliances that are approved by a recognized testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Electrical Place electrical cords where they will not be tripped over or walked on. Check electrical cords to ensure they are in good condition -- not frayed, spliced, cracked or warm to the touch. Ensure extension cords carry their proper load, as indicated by the rating labeled on the cord and the appliance. Use extension cord/outlet extenders that have a circuit breaker or a fuse in the plug. Secure electrical cords to walls and baseboards with nylon cord clips -- not with nails or staples, which can damage cords creating fire or shock hazards. Keep electrical cords away from water. All outlets and switches should have a cover plate so no wiring is exposed. Use lightbulbs that are the correct wattage for each lamp or fixture. Avoid placing furniture against electric plugs. Make the fuse box easily accessible and clearly labeled. Use only the proper size fuses in the fuse box. Lamp switches should be easy to turn to avoid burns from hot lightbulbs. Kitchen Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Have a loud-ring timer to remind you when food is cooked. Keep stovetop and oven clean and grease-free. Have easy-to-use and see stove controls. Do not risk a fire by using your stovetop or oven for storage. Have an easy-to-use fire extinguisher nearby. Keep items that might catch fire -- towels, potholders and curtains -- away from the burners and oven. Heat-producing small appliances -- irons and toaster ovens -- should have an auto-off feature. You should be able to reach regularly used items without climbing. If you use a step stool, ensure it is sturdy, in good repair and equipped with a handrail. Have adequate lighting over the sink and stove work areas. Regularly sharpen kitchen knives. Immediately wipe up spills on the floor to prevent slipping. Stairs and Stairways Have a light switch at both the top and bottom of stairs. Have even lighting in the stairwell to avoid shadows on the stairs. Ensure you can clearly see the edge of each step, especially the first and last, with the light on. Ensure stairways have sturdy, securely fastened banisters or handrails that run the full length of the stairs, slightly beyond the steps. Keep stair coverings and steps in good repair. Securely tack down carpet or rubber stair treads. Telephones Locate telephones conveniently, so you don't have to hurry to answer the phone. Use portable telephones to avoid the hazard of tripping over long phone cords. Ensure the numbers on the phone are large enough to read easily. Have easy-to-read emergency phone numbers listed by all phones. Bedrooms Have a working smoke detector on the ceiling outside your bedroom door. Ensure you can turn on a light without having to get out of bed in the dark. Have a flashlight next to the bed. Have a phone with emergency numbers close to the bed. Leave a light on at night between the bed and the bathroom. Arrange furniture so there is a clear path from bed to bathroom. Do not risk being burned by going to bed with a heating pad turned on. Do not smoke in bed. Additional Considerations Ensure the valve supplying gas to the house can be shut off easily. Have a qualified professional check your water heater and other gas appliances to ensure fumes are not leaking. Have an automatic garage door that goes up immediately if it touches anything before fully closing? Keep all heaters throughout the house properly vented. Have timers on lights and radios to help protect against burglary. When you carry objects, ensure your vision is not obscured. Have properly fitting footwear with nonskid rubber soles. Avoid falling by enlisting assistance to change ceiling bulbs.  Find a Physician More Wellness Tips Community Events Support Groups
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