Household safety is important for maintaining good quality of life and keeping your entire household safe. In a standard home, there are many potential hazards. Having the proper controls in place and being aware of the household dangers can help you stay safe on a day to day basis. 

Electrical Safety

Electrical hazards may lead to fires, electrocution, injury and property damage. Maintaining your home's electrical system can help you avoid problems. Know how much electrical service your home gets, and whether or not that level of service is adequate for your household size. Keep in mind that older electrical systems can have inadequate service, leading to electrical overload.

If your electrical system is very old or is powered by a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker, have it inspected by an electrician to ensure that it's safe to use. Avoid plugging extension cords into power strips, as this can result in an overload. 

Knowing the signs of electrical overload can help. Some of the most common signs of overload include:

• Fuses or circuits are blown regularly. 
• It's necessary to shut off lights or other electrical household items when large appliances are running. 
• Outlet covers regularly become warm to the touch.
• Sparks can be seen when plugging items into the wall.
• Corrosion, soot or damage is visible on the electrical box. 

Finally, have GFCI outlets installed in parts of the house where moisture is present. GFCI outlets can prevent electrocution in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen, and in outlets located in the yard.  

Fire Safety

A household fire can lead to property damage, smoke inhalation injuries, burns and even fatalities. Have a fire plan in place to ensure that everyone in the house knows how to evacuate in the event of a fire. Practice the fire plan once annually to ensure that everyone is comfortable with the process. In addition, these fire safety tips can help you keep your home safe:

• Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors once annually. 
• Test the batteries in your smoke detectors on a quarterly basis.
• Have your chimney or wood burning stove inspected by an expert on a regular basis.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage and on every level of the home.
• Check the gauge on your fire extinguishers on a monthly basis.
• Show the fire extinguishers to all baby sitters and nannies so they can be found quickly in an emergency.
• Allow the older children in the household to practice using the fire extinguishers at least once or twice until they feel comfortable with the process. 

Bathroom Safety

Slippery floors and presence of water in bathrooms can lead to slips, falls and drownings. Keeping the bathroom well maintained, clean and well-lit can help prevent these problems. Controlling for bathroom safety risks can help you protect the members of your family. 

• Place a rubber mat on the floor of the bathtub or shower to prevent slips. 
• Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower – it's an underrated renovation for sellers that will be appreciated by many, especially if your community skews older.
• Replace all light bulbs as soon as they burn out.
• Keep the tub well cleaned to prevent slippery soap scum from building up on the surface.
• Clear clogs as soon as they form.
• Place a nightlight on the wall to prevent falls in the dark.
• Place all medications in a secure container that cannot be reached by children and pets.
• Keep your water heater set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding. 

Kitchen Safety

The kitchen is a room where people commonly get cuts and burns. Like in the bathroom, slips and falls are also a common problem in kitchens. The best way to stay safe in the kitchen is to use common sense and good quality kitchen tools.

• Sharpen knives on a regular basis.
• Replace oven mitts as they become damaged or worn thin.
• Do not cook while wearing loose clothing.
• Keep your hair tied back while cooking.
• Clean up spills on the kitchen floor immediately.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.

Discuss Safety With Other Members Of Your Household

Keeping other members of your household safe involves communicating with them about hazards and going over plans for safety. Children in particular must be reminded to be safe on a regular basis. When accidents occur, go over the accidents with your family members. Do your best to learn from incidents and change your behavior to avoid accidents in the future. Interested in lightning safety? Read my indoor lightning safety guide here.