Hidden Dangers In The Home
From overloaded electrical outlets to slippery bathtubs, our homes can sometimes feel more like a circus than a sanctuary! Our Quality of Life HomeCare has compiled a few easy to implement suggestions on how to keep you and your loved ones safe at home.
Do you know in which room most household accidents occur? With its limited square footage and multitude of slippery surfaces you may have already guessed, it's the bathroom! Thankfully a few items easily obtained from accessible, inexpensive places like the dollar store can literally be a lifesaver. Our favourite at Our Quality of Life HomeCare is suction cup safety grips for the bottom of the tub. If you loved our article on the benefits of coconut oil and decided to make the switch you may be in search of a way to reap the immense health benefits while mitigating any dangers which may arise from its slippery texture. We like to have fun with something whimsical like rubber ducks but if one large mat suits your personality better those are available too. Let's also keep the basics in mind at bath time, something like a simple bath mat could prevent a dangerous fall when entering and exiting a wet surface.
Having a safety rail or grab bar in the shower can be a welcome addition to any slippery situation. At Our Quality of Life HomeCare your safety is our number one priority, therefore we recommend having a safety bar or other permanent fixture installed by a professional contractor. We have all seen the suction cup handles and other temporary items before, even drilling directly into the wall tile is not enough. Offering a false sense of security, some items have the potential to do more harm than good. If you've been thinking about a bathroom renovation discuss installing a proper, secure grab bar which is reinforced directly into the wall studs. If you happen to be converting your bathtub into a walk-in shower why not consider a shower seat? From fatigue or injury to simple leg shaving even a small shower seat can become a big luxury. If you haven't had a look, we welcome you to review the multitude of options available in the marketplace today. The list of options can range from a large built-in tiled bench to a simple wooden fold up seat, there truly is something for everyone.
Every year usually around the holidays we often see the same reminders about electrical outlets and the importance of fire safety. We at Our Quality of Life HomeCare cannot stress enough the importance of having the proper safety protocol in place at home especially in the event of a fire. We know everyone needs to have a working smoke detector on each floor of their home, but how often do we discuss the importance of having a working fire extinguisher? Let's venture one step beyond that, if you do have one, do you know how to use it? Are you comfortable with what you need to do in a stressful situation? Thankfully the technique is quite simple and if you never read another article on fire safety remember three simple things; 1) Pull the pin 2) Squeeze the trigger 3) Aim for the base of the flame. These simple steps are easy to remember and something everyone should know. Another simple rule of thumb to remember is the fire triangle. No matter what is burning, no matter where the location is, fire needs three simple things to exist; 1) oxygen 2) fuel 3) heat. A fire can be prevented or extinguished if you remove any one of these elements from the fire triangle.
The most popular technique we are all familiar with is stop, drop and roll. Similar to covering an engulfed item or person with a large blanket, this is known as smothering. This technique is removing the oxygen from the fire triangle which effectively extinguishes the heat and flame. There are two new products on the market now which can be more convenient to use for children and seniors in the event of an emergency. One is a flower vase that you throw into any fire which immediately extinguishes any small to medium size fire. The vase breaks and disperses a substance over the targeted area. The second is a fire spray can, available at home depot it is much less complicated and takes less pressure to dispense than a traditional fire extinguisher. Next time you find yourself sitting in the family minivan at the local stop light, why not take a minute to ask your kids, grandparents, or even your spouse how comfortable they feel operating a fire extinguisher. Have a discussion about what they know about fire safety. It could save your life or the life of someone you love.
Keeping on the same wavelength as electricity, pun intended, let’s discuss the flow of current into our home. When your local electrician installs a plug in the wall, he connects a flow of constant electrical current to what’s called a junction box. This current flows from the socket into your favourite household appliances and devices through a metal adapter. The most important thing to keep in mind is the flow of current is always there inside the plug so we don't want to attach something except for its intended purpose, only as directed and only when needed. This means no cell phone chargers that are not connected to a device. Even toasters when not in use should be unplugged from the wall. A device which is connected should always rest on a hard-flat surface as the battery is a possible heat source and can possibly ignite a bed, sofa or chair if left unattended.
Whether it’s assisting you with replacing the batteries in your smoke detector, accompanying you to Home Depot to purchase the home safety items mentioned above or simply referring a trustworthy contractor to assist you with your home renovation. Our Quality of Life HomeCare is here to provide you with as much or as little assistance necessary in providing the best available care for yourself or a loved one. Please feel free to reach out to us by email at info@ourqol.ca or by phone at (647) 807-7154 with questions or to book a complimentary care assessment. We look forward to hearing from you!