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Take Action to Keep Your Home Safe

The sanctuary of the home is sometimes invaded by dangers from unexpected sources.

Toxic products, carbon monoxide and mold are common hazards in your home environment. However, if handled appropriately, associated problems can easily be diffused or eliminated. Consider these measures:

Products: Many common items bought for home use have the potential to cause harm or death if a substance gets on the skin, in the eyes or is ingested. Cleaners, personal care products, vitamins, medicines and plants may contain poisons. So there is no confusion, keep all products in their original container with label attached.

Ensure that poisonous products are stored safely, well away from the reach of children and separate from food preparation and storage areas. But you should also know what to do in case of accidental exposure. Follow these steps immediately:

* If a poison has been inhaled, give the victim fresh air.

* When poisons come in contact with the skin, remove any clothing around the contact area and rinse the skin for several minutes.

* Contact the poison control center and explain exactly what's happened with which product. Maintain a list of emergency contact numbers, including the poison control center, next to your phone.

* Do not administer food, liquids or ipecac syrup unless directed by a health care professional or the poison control center. Doing so may cause damage to the throat or lungs.

* Flush eyes with lukewarm water for 15 minutes to remove chemicals or foreign objects.

Carbon Monoxide: Unseen problems may be lurking as silent threats. Carbon monoxide is one of those threats. It cannot be heard, seen, smelled or tasted.

Car engines, oil burners, furnaces, hot water heaters, appliances and open fires can all produce it. It accumulates in the home for a variety of reasons, which include faulty appliances, maintenance issues and poor ventilation. High levels of carbon monoxide can cause severe headaches, nausea, damage to the body's systems and even death.

To be secure that this issue does not exist in your home, install carbon monoxide detectors to warn you of threats.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you install the detectors near sleeping areas on every level of your home or in each bedroom. Keep in mind that carbon monoxide units do not replace the need for smoke detectors.

Mold: Compared to carbon monoxide, mold is an easily detected home hazard. You can generally see it or smell it. Indoor mold causes allergy symptoms, nasal congestion, sore throats and upper respiratory problems. More serious problems can develop with continued exposure.

Whatever the age of the home, mold can be a problem. Poor ventilation, leaks and plumbing failures can all contribute to producing mold, which can show up as dark stains in various shapes and textures. To eliminate mold, thoroughly dry the area, remove the stain with a non-ammonia cleaner and water, then disinfect everything.

Ensure your home is truly a family haven. Check your home often for safety and hidden dangers. In addition to the issues mentioned here, keep a well-stocked first aid kit readily available, plan your family's escape plan in case of fire and know in advance how you will handle severe weather conditions. Resources include your local fire department, poison control centers or the National Safety Council.

Home resources are the focus at http://www.fcihome.com, where author Miriam Kenovas edits the Home Front ezine.

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