Every year, millions of people visit the emergency room due to household accidents. In fact, many of these accidents are easily preventable with little knowledge and forethought. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by avoiding the following common household accidents.
Some Common Household Accidents
Falling Down
The leading cause of household accidents is falling. Falls can occur anywhere in the home, but they are most common in the bathroom and on stairs. To prevent falls, always keep your floors clean and dry, and never use a wet or slippery surface as a makeshift stool. You can also install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower or tub in the bathroom. Another way to avoid any falls in your home is by ensuring sufficient lighting on stairs and keeping stairways clear of clutter.
Burns
Another common type of household accident is burns. Burns can occur from several sources, including fires, electrical outlets, scalding liquids, and chemicals. To prevent burns, you should never leave cooking food unattended. It is also advisable to unplug electrical appliances when not in use. Make sure you use caution when handling hot liquids, and store all chemicals out of reach of children.
Poison Consumption
Finally, poisoning is another leading cause of accidental injury in the home. Poisons can be found in food, cleaning supplies, medications, plants, and cosmetics. To prevent poisoning, always read labels carefully before using any product. Store all food properly, and lock up all medications and cleaning supplies. An extra step you can take is to research any plants in your home to ensure they are not poisonous.
What Should You Do If There’s an Accident in Your Home?
No one ever wants to think about their family being in an accident, but it’s important to be prepared for anything. Here are a few things you should do if your family gets into an accident in your home.
Stay Calm
First and foremost, don’t panic. It can be difficult to stay calm in an emergency situation. Still, it’s important to remember that panicking will only worsen the situation. Take a few deep breaths and try to assess the situation calmly. By staying calm, you will have better decision-making skills and be able to better help your loved ones.
Call For Help
If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately and let them know what happened. They will be able to provide further instructions and dispatch help as needed. On the other hand, if there is no one injured, you can take some time to gather information and make sure everyone is okay before calling 911.
Sometimes, you might need to go to a doctor so that they can help your body recover from the accident. Depending on the injury, you might need to go to a specialist. If the person injured has fallen down, they may need to see the dentist if they have lost some teeth. Sometimes, a more intensive and modern procedure is necessary to reconstruct the mouth or give the patient a full set of teeth. The dentist might recommend dental implants as replacement teeth. But this happens only after the dentist checks the patient and decides it’s the best and safest solution.
If anyone in your household has accidentally burned themselves, they might need to see a dermatologist. On the other hand, if they have consumed poison, they will need to go to the hospital immediately. Other times, your family might just need some rest and relaxation to help them feel better.
File A Claim
Get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible. They will likely have specific instructions on what you need to do next, and they’ll be able to help you through the claims process. In the meantime, start gathering relevant documentation, like photos of the damage or medical bills.
Debrief
Finally, take some time to debrief with your family. It can be difficult to process what happened, especially if someone was injured. Talk about what happened and how everyone is feeling. You might also need a counselor or therapist if anyone is struggling to cope with the aftermath.
Prevent Further Injury
If someone has been burned, it’s vital to run cool water over the area for at least five minutes to prevent further damage. If someone has ingested poison, call the poison control center immediately and follow their instructions. And if someone has fallen, try to avoid moving them unless it’s absolutely necessary as this could make any injuries worse.
No one ever wants to think about their family being in an accident, but unfortunately, accidents always happen. It’s important to be prepared to know what to do if something happens. By following these steps, you can help ensure that everyone stays safe and calm in the event of an accident.
