(Newswire.net — August 12, 2019) — We usually think of “home sweet home” as a safe place. In fact, millions of people injure themselves by accident each year right in their own homes. Most in-home mishaps are the result of carelessness, unwise storage decisions and leaving children unattended.
What are the biggest risks at home? Year after year, insurance studies reveal that “falling objects” are the biggest offender and Number 1 on the list. This perennial category-topper, according to experts, is the result of very bad storage techniques. Placing heavy things in high places is always a recipe for disaster, and children are usually the victims. But what about the other four members of this category? Here they are, in order of frequency, with “Number 2″ being the second-most common in-home accident, ‘Number 3” the third, and so on.
Trips and Falls
The victims in this category also happen to be children but include older adults as well. In fact, anyone with a mobility issue is at risk of falling down steps, slipping on rugs, tripping on uneven surfaces and generally taking a tumble that can result in serious injury. Some homeowners seek to reduce these kinds of injuries by using rubber floor mats in high-risk areas and even installing in-home elevators to virtually eliminate the risk of staircase accidents. One reason in-home elevators have become so popular in new homes has to do with safety. Even though many homeowners install elevators to boost the resale value of the property, most know that a reputable Canadian home elevator company offers the safest way for seniors and small children to travel from floor to floor.
Bruises
It seems like a minor thing to list alongside items like “falling objects” and falling down a flight of stairs, but bruising can be serious. Many accidents that take place at home result from people bumping into things, either in the dark or in fully lighted rooms. Incidents like these often end up with a trip to the emergency room to check for broken bones, sprains and other, more serious problems than bruises. But the fact remains that bruising is number three on the list of most common in-home injuries.
Cuts
Cuts happen to children and adults alike, but tent to be more serious for adults. The most common place people suffer from cuts in the home is the kitchen, followed closely by the garage. Preparing food and working on cars are often listed as two of the most dangerous things we do in our homes. Some cuts can be serious and mean a trip to the hospital. Every year in the U.S. thousands of people require stitches to mend torn skin. More often than not, those cuts take place in the home, while preparing a meal or trying to fix a car.
Burns
Most burns that occur in homes happen to young children who scald themselves with hot water. Whenever something spills from a stove, or when kids fool around with kitchen faucets, burns can result. Fortunately, the huge majority of burns are minor, but about 10 percent require the attention of a doctor.