How to Make Your Home Safer for Less

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The following post comes from Veronica Bowman at partner site The Dollar Stretcher.

While we all strive for a frugal lifestyle, safety around the house isn’t where cutting corners is going to pay off. Hospital statistics show that falls are the leading cause of accidents and injuries around the home. These can be both physically and financially painful, since they can result in steep medical bills and lost income as you recuperate and can’t work. Many times, these accidents could have been avoided if the homeowner had taken a few precautionary measures…

  • Throw rugs: They can live up to their name, tripping you up and throwing you to the floor. Remove all rugs that don’t have a slip-proof backing. If you simply can’t part with your decorative but hazardous rugs, buy non-slip rug pads to place underneath them.
  • Grab bars and non-slip tub and shower bottoms: They’re not just for seniors or for people with physical challenges. They can prevent injury for everyone.
  • Nightlights: Stumbling around in the dark has been the cause of many indoor falls. Nightlights are inexpensive and won’t make a noticeable difference in your power bill. Place nightlights in the hallway, kitchen, bathroom, and any other area you’re likely to walk though during the night.
  • Clutter: It not only looks bad, it’s dangerous. A child’s toy or a pet’s toy that’s left on the floor can easily cause someone to trip. Magazines are dangerously slippery when stepped on. Clothing scattered on the floor is also a potential hazard.
  • Water: Wipe up spills immediately so that no one slips and falls. When you mop the floors, let everyone in the house know that the floors are wet. Keep mats at each door for wiping wet shoes and boots dry before walking across the room.
  • Electrical cords: When laid across the floor, they’re a tripping danger. Zip ties are an inexpensive way to keep electrical cords under control so that someone’s foot doesn’t become entangled in them.
  • Step stools: Whenever you need to reach an object on a top shelf, be sure to use a step stool designed for that purpose. A stack of books or upside-down trash can is not a good option. Metal or wooden step stools can be found that cost less than $30.

Not only is it wise to take measures to assure your safety inside of your home, you should also do whatever you can to reduce the risk of falls outside of your home…

  • Install pathway lighting if you have a walkway leading to the entrance of your home.
  • If you have steps or a ramp leading to your door, add handrails for extra safety.
  • Exterior steps and the surface of a ramp can be slippery when wet. Add non-slip exterior tape to these areas.
  • Lawn and garden tools and equipment should be stored properly rather than left lying around. (They’ll also last longer.)
  • Ladders should be sturdy. Adding some of the non-slip exterior tape to your ladder is a smart safety measure.

Safety in and around your home should always be a priority even if some other area of the budget must temporarily be trimmed in order to make your home a safe place for everyone living and visiting there.

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