Pediatric Environmental Home Assessment - Background on Home Safety

Bringing in materials to perform the work such as volatile organic compounds;
By disturbing existing materials such as lead-based paint and asbestos; or
Overriding existing safety features such as removing railings or disabling alarms.

The resident undertook a renovation, ask for details and review for potential indoor pollutants or home safety hazards.

Regarding the hazards during renovation, the Home Safety Council that taking on home improvement projects can be fun and appealing. However, being handy around the home could lead to serious injury if you don’t take appropriate safety precautions. The State of Home Safety in America™ report (2002) found that emergency departments reported more than 330,000 visits due to injuries with home workshop equipment in a single year. Safety practices will shield you and your loved ones from injuries related to home improvement projects:

Keep a stocked first aid kit in every location that an injury may occur. First aid may make the difference between a quick recovery and permanent injury.
Post emergency numbers, including the national Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) by each phone.
If you decide to install a fire extinguisher in your workshop, contact your fire department to learn how to select the proper type of extinguisher and when to use it.
Keep hazardous materials out of children’s reach.
When working with any product, check warnings and content labels to identify hazards.
Follow manufacturer's instructions and heed warning labels.
Use gasoline as a motor fuel only.
Gasoline must never be used indoors, because its flammable vapors can be ignited by even a tiny spark. Store gasoline in an outdoor shed or garage, out of children’s reach, in a vented container approved for gasoline storage.
Use caution with other flammable and combustible products. Properly dispose of oily rags after use and hang them outside to dry.
Falling and flying objects, especially when working in tight spaces, can pose a hazard to your head, face and eyes. Consider wearing hard hats, safety vests, protective eye wear and ear plugs while working.
If you allow someone to watch you work, make sure they wear protective gear too.
Wear chemical safety glasses when using hazardous solvents and cleaning products.
Wear safety glasses with side shields when using power tools.
Designate your work area as a “kid free zone” to keep young children out of harm’s way and out of the reach of tools and equipment.
Do not wear any loose or dangling clothing or jewelry that could become caught in moving parts.
Keep your work area clean and free from clutter.
Keep power equipment in good condition. Repair or replace damaged tools.
Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions and warnings on tools, power equipment and building materials.
Use heavy duty extension cords for tools such as trimmers and edgers listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for outdoor use.
Unplug the power cord before you do any trouble-shooting on a tool that is jammed or won't start, and never walk away from a plugged-in-power tool -- even for a few minutes.
Follow basic ladder safety rules whenever climbing.

Key Resources: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_improvement_w001.aspx

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Stairs, protective walls, railings, porches

According to the Home Safety Council's national report on home injuries, the State of Home Safety in America™ (2004), falls accounted for nearly one-third of all unintentional home injury deaths each year. Falls from stairs and steps were the second leading cause of death due to falls. Follow the Home Safety Council's steps to stairway safety to make your home safer from falls:

Use the handrail. (All stairways and steps, no matter how short, should have handrails on both sides.)
Install bright lights and on/off switches at the top and bottom of each stairwell and over porches and entryways.
Keep stairways and steps clear of all objects. Never use the stairs as temporary storage or for displaying decorative items.
Check stairs for worn or loose carpeting or protruding carpet tacks. If your steps have a smooth surface, consider installing anti-slip tread to provide safer traction.
Paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible. Mistaking the lowest step for floor level can cause you to lose your balance and fall.
In homes with young children, use safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairways.
Wear footwear with traction. Avoid wearing socks or smooth-soled slippers, which can slide out from under you on bare floors.
Avoid carrying vision blocking loads. Carry a small enough load up and down stairs that you can see where you are stepping and can easily keep one hand free to hold onto a handrail.
Avoid placing throw rugs at the top or bottom of a stairway as small scatter rugs can slide or the edges can become curled. If it is necessary to put a rug at the bottom of a stairway, make sure it has a skid-resistant backing and use carpet tape to keep the corners from curling.
If you have steps outside your home, keep them free of ice and snow. To prevent a tripping hazard, periodically check steps and walkways for broken or lose bricks, cement or stone.

Key Resources: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_slipsfalls_w001.aspx

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Hallway lighting

Poorly lighting can result in slips, trips and falls for residents, especially the elderly and those who may have eyesight problems. Changes in the level of the floor such as at a transition from carpet to tile can be a serious problem. Replace burned out light bulbs and if possible go to a brighter bulb.

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Poison control number

Home Safety Council research shows that poisoning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury related death in the home. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) more than 92 percent of the 2.3 million poison exposures reported in the latest year studied occurred in the home. Yet, the Home Safety Council found that most families are not taking the appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of poison exposure.

Poison prevention is for everyone, not just children. The Home Safety Council's poisoning prevention advice can help individuals and families keep their homes safer from poisonous and toxic products, chemicals and gases, regardless of the ages of the occupants. Homes with young children need to take extra precautions. Follow these guidelines to keep your family safe from poison exposures at home:

Make sure all potentially dangerous products (household cleaners, medicines, and typical garage items like antifreeze and pesticides) all have child resistant closures on them, are locked up, and are stored in high places.
Homes with young children should have child locks installed on cabinets.
Store food and non-food products separately. This protects consumers in the event of a leak in the product and reduces any possible confusion between items.
Make sure all medicines and prescriptions have not expired. If they have expired they should be flushed down the toilet and not thrown away in the garbage.
Immediately mop up puddles of anti-freeze and car oil in the garage or driveway. They are extremely harmful to children and pets.
Read the use and storage directions before using products. Original labels on product containers often give important first-aid information.
Wear gloves and follow manufacturer’s instructions when using harsh chemicals or cleaners.
Do not mix household products, because their contents could react together with dangerous results.
Post the national poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222) next to every phone.

Key Resources: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_poison_w001.aspx

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Family fire escape plan

Fire is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the home; but by being prepared to handle this emergency, you can help your family safely exit your home in the event of a fire. Fire safety and survival begins with everyone in your household being prepared. In the year studied, The State of Home Safety in America™ report found that only 54 percent of families with children have discussed what to do in case of a home fire. The Home Safety Council recommends the following guidelines for developing a home fire escape plan:

Have smoke alarms on every level of your home. Make sure a smoke alarm is inside or near every bedroom.
Test each smoke alarm every month. Push the test button until you hear a loud noise.
Make a fire escape plan for your family. Sketch out a floor plan of your home, including all rooms, windows, interior and exterior doors, stairways, fire escapes and smoke alarms. Make sure that every family member familiar with the layout.
Make sure windows and doorways open easily. Make sure stair and doorways are never blocked. Look for things that could slow down your escape. Move or fix them.
If you have security bars on doors and windows, have a “quick-release” latch. This makes it easy to get outside in an emergency. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use the latch.
Find two ways out of every room – the door and maybe the window. You might need an escape ladder to get out of upstairs bedroom windows. If so, they should be part of your fire drill, deployed safely from a ground-floor window for practice.
Select two escape routes from each room and mark them clearly on the plan.
Children and older people will need help escaping a fire. Plan for this. Know who needs help and pick someone to help them. If anyone in the household has a hearing impairment, purchase special smoke alarms that use strobes and/or vibrations to signal a fire.
Have a place to meet in front of your home. Use a portable phone or a neighbor’s phone to call 911.
Make copies of the escape plan sketches and post them in each room until everyone becomes familiar with them.
Practice makes perfect. Every second counts during a real fire. Hold family fire drills frequently and at various times until the escape plans become second nature. Once you’ve mastered the escape process, hold a drill when family members are sleeping so you can test each family member’s ability to waken and respond to the smoke alarm.
Young children might sleep through the sound of the smoke alarm. Be prepared for a family member to wake children for fire drills and in a real emergency.

Key Resources: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_fire_w002.aspx

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Electrical appliances

Homes are filled with electrical appliances and tools that enhance our lives with convenience, comfort, and entertainment. But the power that drives these important devices can be a source of pain and tragedy if it is misused.

These guidelines from the Home Safety Council will help you spot electrical problems which may be present in a home and take appropriate action to correct or remove dangers. For continuous safety, residents should give their home periodic checkups to be sure that no new hazards develop. They should look for the following:

Every home should have the protection of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in bathrooms and kitchens and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) in bedrooms. Contact a professional electrician to ensure your home is adequately protected.
Check your GFCI monthly to determine that it is operating properly. Units can be checked by pressing the "TEST "button; the GFCI should disconnect the power to that outlet. Pressing the "RESET "button reconnects the power. If the GFCI does not disconnect the power, get assistance from a professional electrician.
If young children are in your home, use child-safety caps on wall outlets.
All electrical appliances, cords and fixtures in your home should be listed by an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Never use worn, frayed or otherwise damaged cords or appliances.
Follow the appliance manufacturer’s recommendation for plugging into electrical power. Extension cords should only be used temporarily.
Always use the appropriate light bulb wattage for the size of the fixture. The safe maximum wattage is posted in or on the fixture.
Keep all electrically-powered appliances and equipment dry and away from places where water is used.
Unplug all small kitchen appliances, hair dryers, curling irons, electric blankets and other small household appliances when not in use.
Keep electrical cords out of traffic areas and away from furniture that may cause pressure. Do not place cords under rugs or carpets, which can cause overheating.
Check that cords are in good condition and not knotted or coiled. Do not attach extension cords to baseboards or walls with nails or staples.
Check the electrical rating on appliance cords and extension cords and make sure they are carrying no more than their proper loads.
If you need to use extension cords outside, only use those specifically marked for outdoor use.
Never leave the faceplates off of outlets or switches.
Outdoor outlets should have waterproof covers.

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Matches and lighters stored

Candles can provide a warm and festive atmosphere - but they can also be a fire hazard if left unattended or placed near anything flammable. The Home Safety Council encourages families to enjoy the warm and inviting atmosphere of candles while always keeping fire safety in mind:

Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish all candles before going to sleep or leaving the room.
Do not permit children to keep or use candles or incense in their rooms. Candles should only be used when a sober adult is present and awake.
Never use lighted candles on or near a Christmas tree or other evergreens.
Keep candles at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including other decorations and wrapping paper.
Always use stable, nonflammable candle holders.
Place candles where they will not be knocked down or blown over and out of reach of pets and young children.
Always keep burning candles up high, out of the reach of children. If you have children in your home, store candles, matches and lighters out of their sight and reach.

Key Resource: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_candle_w001.aspx

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Exterior environment

According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), there were nearly 47,000 injuries on home playgrounds to children under age 15 in the latest year studied. The report also finds that over a ten-year period, more deaths to children occurred on backyard playgrounds than on public playgrounds. Adopt the following safety guidelines with playground equipment in your home, and also use the following guidelines to inspect any equipment in your neighborhood or school before your child plays there:

Cover areas under and around play equipment with soft materials such as hardwood chips, mulch, pea gravel and sand (materials should be nine to 12 inches deep and extend six feet from all sides of play equipment).
Do not suspend more than two swing seats in the same section of a swing support structure.
Check equipment for signs of deterioration or corrosion, including rust, chipped paint, splitting or cracked plastic components or loose splinters.
Avoid putting play equipment close together. For example, stationary climbing equipment should have an uncluttered fall zone of at least six feet in all directions of equipment.
Slides and platforms for climbing equipment should not exceed heights of six feet for school-age children or four feet for pre-school children.
Beware of entrapment or entanglement hazards. A child's head can be trapped in openings between 3.5 and nine inches wide.
Avoid elevated platforms, walkways, or ramps that lack adequate guardrails or other barriers (to help prevent children from falling).
Watch for possible tripping hazards such as rocks and roots. Clear this debris from your child's play area.
Always supervise children when they are using playground equipment.

Key Resource: Home Safety Council - www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_playground_w001.aspx