Home Safety

Did you know that over 26,000 injuries were reported in one year due to improper use of a snow shovel? Another 20,000 + injuries occurred while using a barbecue grill. And over 220,000 injuries occurred while using a ladder.

These numbers are staggering, but a little home safety awareness can keep you from the hospital and from being a statistic for next year.

Ladders: 227, 769 injuries reported in one year.
“Falls happen when guys lean over a little too far,” says Meri-K Appy of the Home Safety Council. A good rule of thumb is if your belt buckle goes past either side of the ladder, then you have reached too far. Climb down the ladder and reposition making sure that for every four feet that you have to climb up the ladder, that the base is one foot away from the wall/house.

Power Saws: 83,747 injuries reported in one year.
Dr. Steven Johnson of the University of Maine cooperative extension states that “[s]ince dull blades don’t cut well, you may hit a knot or staple in the wood and the saw may jerk out of your hands or kick back.” First, you should test the blades’ sharpness by cutting a small piece of wood scrap to see if the blade cuts clean or rips the wood. If it rips the wood, then a new blade is on order. You can always resharpen your blades, but replacement is better.

Snow Shovels: 26,117 injuries reported in one year.
These injuries are mostly back injuries, which Dr. Arya Nick Shamie, an associate professor of spine surgery at UCLA stresses that “[y]ou shouldn’t pick up more than 10 to 15 percent of your body weight” when shoveling snow. You should turn your foot in the direction that you want to throw the snow to avoid any twisting motion. Twisting strains that back. Using a shovel with a bent handle is also helpful as “[i]t keeps your spine in a more neutral position,” says chiropractic orthopedist Dr. Douglas Krebs.

Barbecue Grills: 20,677 injuries reported in one year.
The cause of most grill injuries is due to gas leaks. Over the winter, the grill usually sits dormant in the cold weather, allowing the hoses to freeze, and possibly crack. Then comes summer when you want to light up the grill not realizing the hoses are damaged, and next thing you know, the whole grill is in flames and you along with it. Test your grill before using it by pouring soapy water at the hose connection and all along the hose. Turn the gas on slightly, and if bubbles form or you smell the gas, shut the tank off, and buy a new hose. Make sure all the gas has cleared before trying to light.

Fireplaces: 17, 142 injuries reported in one year.
Sitting by the fire and reading a good book is one way to pass by the winter blues, but burning your garbage is not. Burning household waste can release harmful chemicals into the air. Remember to always use seasoned wood that is dry, as fresh, green wood can cause a buildup of creosote which can coat the chimney and increase your fire hazard. Before using your fireplace in the winter, or after seasonal use, have a chimney sweep inspect your fireplace and flue for damage or buildup, then clean as necessary.

Nail Guns: 14,800 injuries reported in one year.
Carter Oosterhouse, host of HGTV’s Carter Can expresses the need to holding the nail gun perpendicular to the mark so the nail does not shoot to the side, where your finger might be. He says to keep your hands at least four inches away from where you want the nail to go. If don’t use a nail gun as often, think about using a lightweight one as it is easier to handle.

Wires: 11,971 injuries reported in one year.
Extension cords are being used as a permanent plug by three out of four Americans, increasing their risk of fires according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. Those cords are then being shoved up under furniture to hide them and that is the very action that causes the hazard. When the cords are “hidden” the become bent up, cracked, and the wires become exposed which can lead to an ignition and then a fire. Hiring an electrician to add more outlets may cost a bit more than a few electrical cords, but it will keep you safer.

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