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Awareness into Action
Committing to Keep Your Family Safe
By Mark Stackpole
Everyone knows that home is where the heart is. What fewer people may be aware of is that home can also be where many dangers lie. The Home Security Council (HSC) is the only national organization dedicated to preventing home injuries. Their overall mission is to "educate and empower families to take actions that help keep them safer in and around their homes." Given the statistics surrounding household injuries, it is clear that this mission is an important one.
In their State of Home Safety in America Report 2004, the HSC found that, on average, there are nearly 20,000 deaths due to unintentional home injury per year. On top of that, an average of 21 million medical visits also result from injuries suffered in the home.
"Keeping loved ones safe at home requires a daily commitment," says Meri-K Appy, the president of the Home Safety Council. "We want families across America to realize that a safe home is in their hands and to put that awareness into action each and every day."
Families might be surprised to learn that falls account for an average of 6,000 deaths and 5.1 million injuries per year. Not as surprising is the fact that older adults are most vulnerable to this type of accident. "Common slipping and tripping habits hazards that are easy to fix are too frequently overlooked in American households," Appy says. The HSC recommends that families perform a home safety walk through to minimize the risk of tripping and falling – make sure to address such common problems as floor clutter, poorly lit hallways and stairwells and slippery surfaces like bathtubs or throw rugs without liners.