The majority of injuries at home are not accidents – they are unintentional or preventable injuries. Every year, there are 21 million visits to hospital emergency departments as a result of unintentional injuries. More than 18,000 people in the United States die each year due to injuries that occur in the home. The leading cause of home injury deaths is falls. Nearly 6,000 people die as a result of falls in their homes. Accidental poisonings are the second leading cause of death, causing nearly 5,000 fatalities each year. Accidents that involve fire and burns are the third leading cause, claiming over 3,000 lives every year.
Preventing Falls
Falls are the leading cause of home injuries and deaths in the US. They pose a great risk to children below the age of 5 and adults over the age of 70. The good news is that they can be prevented with a few safety precautions:
- Make the bathroom a slip-free area – You should install grab bars and appliqués or non-slip mats in the shower or bath tub. A bath mat with a non-skid bottom is a fabulous way to prevent slips. You should also immediately clean up any water that splashes on bathroom floors.
- Install safety-proof stairs – You should make sure to remove any clutter from walkways and stairs. The stairs inside and outside your home should have handrails, on both sides if possible. Also, make sure that you have marvelous lighting over stairs.
If you have babies or toddlers in your home, make sure that you install good quality hardware-mounted safety gates not just at the top but also the bottom of the stairs. Ensure that accordion-style gates are not used. You should also make sure that a guard is put on balconies, landings, stair banisters and indoor lofts if your child can slip between the posts. A good option for this purpose is Plexiglas – it bends, does not shatter and is easy to cut.
- Get rid of throw rugs – If you have throw rugs in your home, you should ditch them. They are a serious tripping hazard for both children and old people. If you need them, you should at least make sure that you tack or tape them to the floor.
- Make windows safe – Window-related falls are a common occurrence. You should install window guards to prevent such accidents. Window screens do not have the strength to prevent falls. Window guards that have a quick-release mechanism are a marvelous choice for upper floor windows, as they can be easily opened in case of a fire. Keep furniture away from windows, in children’s rooms in particular.
Your Side of the Story
If you or a loved one has been injured at home due to another person’s negligence, you should immediately seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney at RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. Give us a call. We want to hear what you have to say. If you have a viable case, we want to hear it.
