HealthyLife Articles

Category: Home Safety

10 Action Steps To Keep Foods Safe To Eat

Home Safety

1. Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods when you shop for, prepare, or store foods.

2. Wash your hands before you handle foods, Use clean utensils and clean surfaces when you prepare foods.

3. Rinse raw produce, such as fruits and vegetables, thoroughly under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking. Even if you will peel the produce, it should still be washed first.

4. Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.

5. Dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.

6. Read and follow the instructions on package labels to store and handle foods safely.

7. Thaw frozen foods in the fridge or in cold water. Use the microwave if you are cooking the food right away.

8. Cook foods to a safe temperature. See a complete list atfoodsafety.gov/keep/charts/index.html.

9. Keep hot foods higher than 140ºF. Keep cold foods at 40ºF or lower. Bacteria grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40ºF and 140ºF.

10. Eat cooked foods or refrigerate them within two hours. If the temperature is 90ºF or higher, eat or refrigerate them within one hour – or toss them out.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Home Safety 2

Home Safety

Keeping your home safe takes planning. Get checklists of what to do for all areas of your home.

The number one cause of unintended deaths in the home is poisoning. This is from drugs, solids and liquid substances, gases and vapors, etc. The 2nd leading cause of unintended deaths in the home or a group residence is from falls.

To help prevent falls, use safety rails and mats and nonskid rugs. Keep pathways clear of ice and clutter.

Install smoke alarms as advised by your city’s or county’s code. Check smoke alarms once a month to see that they still work.

Keep all poisons out of children’s reach. Put child-resistant latches on cabinet doors. Follow use and storage instructions on product labels. Install carbon monoxide detectors, too.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Use Ladders Safely

Home Safety

Follow safety tips to keep you from an injury sustained on a ladder.

* Make sure your ladder is long enough for you to reach the job without standing on the top three steps or overextending your body.

* Check the ladder for cracks or weak spots before you use it. Metal ladders should have nonskid steps and footings. (Don’t paint a ladder; you’ll hide defects.)

* Make sure the soles of your shoes or boots are dry and have enough tread to prevent slipping.

* Always steady a ladder on firm ground or a flat board.

* Never place a ladder in front of a door that someone may open.

* Wear tools on a belt or keep them in your pocket so you can keep your hands free when climbing up or down a ladder.

* To avoid losing your balance while standing on a ladder, don’t lean too far back or to the side.

* Don’t use a ladder outdoors on a very windy day.

* To avoid electrocution, don’t use metal ladders near power lines.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The 20 Most Dangerous Household Hazards

Home Safety

You’d think that things like knives and ladders would top the list of dangerous household objects, but they’re outranked by seemingly harmless items like tables and chairs. (Did you know, for instance, that each year thousands of children are injured falling out of bunk beds?)

The following is a list of the objects, activities, or backyard games that most often cause accidental injury, as reported by hospital emergency rooms. Note these potentially hazardous items or activities. Approach each with caution.

* Stairs.

* Floors or flooring materials. Basketball.

* Bicycles.

* Knives.

* Baseball.

* Football.

* Beds.

* Doors.

* Tables.

* Chairs.

* Ceiling and walls.

* Household cabinets, racks, and shelves. Nails, screws, tacks, or bolts. Household containers and packaging. Skating.

* Windows.

* Bathtubs and showers.

* Soccer.

* Ladders.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Save Your Life In A House Fire

Home Safety

Knowing how to react fast in a house fire can save your life and the lives of those you love. Here are some guidelines to follow.

* Keep the phone number of your local fire department clearly posted near all telephones in the house. (Try to memorize the number, in case you have to use a neighbor’s phone.) Use 911! where the service is available.

* Prearrange a plan for family members to follow in case of fire. Conduct fire drills using your escape route.

* If you live in a two-story house, purchase and install an emergency escape ladder and practice using it.

* If a fire breaks out, don’t stop to collect personal possessions. Get people out of the house!

* If you can’t get to within 10 to 12 feet of a fire, you can assume it’s too big to handle on your own. Call the fire department immediately. (Call them for small fires, too.)

* If you try to put out the fire, make sure you can get to an exit. Don’t back yourself into a corner.

* Smother a fire thoroughly and keep it covered so it doesn’t ignite again. The fire department will determine if the fire has been contained or if it has spread.

* If you fail to extinguish the fire and smoke is accumulating, get out of the house quickly!

Poisonous gases and smoke are often more dangerous than flames. (Smoke rises, so remember to “stay low and go.” Crawl if you must. And if you can, place a wet towel over your face to filter out smoke and fumes.)

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
What To Do If Clothing Catches Fire

Home Safety

Few things are more terrifying than having your clothes catch fire. Teach your children and everyone else in your family this simple, lifesaving technique, known as stop, drop, and roll.

Stop. Your natural inclination may be to run. But motion only fans the flames.

Drop. Get to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and keep your face as far from the flames as possible. (If a blanket, rug, or coat is handy, use it to smother the flames. But doing so should never delay stop, drop, and roll.)

Roll. Roll back and forth, again and again, until the flames go out.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Audit Your Home For Safety

Home Safety

Most accidents happen at home. If you think your house is “home, safe home,” take a look around. At first glance it may look orderly, but certain common trouble spots can lead to cuts, falls, burns, or other injuries. The following room-by-room checklist can alert you to accidents waiting to happen.

Kitchen

* Cleaners and dangerous chemicals should be stored out of children’s reach.

* Scissors, knives, ice picks, and other sharp tools should be stored separately from other utensils out of the reach of children.

* Towels, curtains, and other flammable materials should hang a safe distance from heat sources like the stove.

* Kitchen fans and stove ventilation exhausts should be clean and in good working order.

* Electrical cords should run a safe distance from the sink or range.

* Electrical outlets should not be overloaded.

* A sturdy step stool should be available to help reach high cabinets.

* Vinyl floors should be cleaned with nonskid wax.

* A nonskid floor mat should be in place in front of the sink.

* The kitchen should be well-lit.

Bedroom

* Electrical cords should be tucked away from foot traffic and in good working order.

* Electrical outlets should not be overloaded.

* Electric blankets should not be covered by bedspreads or other blankets when in use.

* Carpeting should be secured to the floor.

* A night-light should be situated between the bed and the bathroom or hallway.

* The bedroom telephone should be easy to reach, even from the floor, if necessary.

* Ashtrays, irons, electric hair curlers, and other potential fire hazards should be located away from bedding, curtains, or other flammable material.

* Smoke detectors should be located near entrances to rooms.

Bathroom

* Floor mats should have nonskid backing.

* Rubber mats or adhesive-backed strips should be in place in the bathtub or shower stall.

* A support bar should be securely installed in the bathtub or shower stall.

* Hair dryers, electric shavers, or other electric appliances should be kept away from water and unplugged when not in use.

* A light switch should be located near the bathroom entrance or entrances.

Halls and Stairs

* Halls and stairs should be well-lit, with a light switch at each end of a stairway.

* If a staircase is dimly lit, the top and bottom steps should be marked with reflective tape.

* Sturdy hand rails should be securely installed on both sides of each stairway.

* Floor covering on stairs and in halls should be skid-proof or carpeted and not creased or frayed.

* Stairways should be clear of shoes, books, toys, tools, or other clutter.

* When young children are in the house, gates should block access to stairways.

Basement and Garage

* To avoid confusion and misuse, all chemicals and cleaners should be kept in their original containers.

* Hazardous chemicals should be kept under lock and key or out of reach of children.

* Sharp or otherwise potentially hazardous tools should be in good working order.

* Gasoline and other flammable materials should be stored in airtight containers and away from heat sources (outside the home, if possible).

* To prevent suffocation, dispose of all plastic bags, or keep them out of reach of children.

* Don’t leave objects small enough to be swallowed within reach of children.

* Buy a radon test kit from your state department of health or department of environmental protection, or contact the National Radon Hotline at 1.800.767.7236 for information on radon testing. (Radon is an invisible gas that causes health problems if it builds up in homes and can’t escape.) If your home has high radon levels, hire a reliable radon expert to help you reduce levels of this gas in your home.

Elsewhere around the House

* Outdoor porches and walkways should be kept clear of ice in winter weather.

* Window screens should be securely fastened, especially if small children are around.

* Take steps to remedy unsafe situations as soon as possible.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Install Smoke Detectors And Be Sure They Work

Home Safety

Smoke detectors save lives. But if a smoke detector is placed in the wrong spot or not maintained, it may be useless in a fire.

To install and maintain smoke detectors:

* Install at least one smoke detector on each level of your house. Best locations are in hallways and just outside bedroom doors.

* As an added safety measure, install two types of smoke detectors. The photoelectric cell variety detects smoldering fires, and the ionization type detects hot, flaming fires. Check for a UL (Underwriters Laboratory) emblem on the label to be sure the detectors you buy meet industry standards. And make sure they each come with a warranty, in case they’re defective.

* Affix detectors on the ceiling or high on an interior wall, because smoke and heat rise.

* Once a month, check the detectors to make sure the batteries still work. Most detectors have a test button. If you push the button and hear a beep, the batteries are good. If you hear a chirping sound, the batteries need to be replaced. (To be safe, you should replace the batteries annually, whether the malfunction signal goes off or not. To help you remember, choose an annual holiday, like New Year’s Day, as replacement time.)

* To make sure the sensing chamber works, you should also test the device with a lit match or candle.

* Be sure the alarm rings loudly enough to alert your family.

* Most smoke detectors last three to five years. Replace as needed.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
When In Doubt, Throw It Out

Home Safety

Take steps to avoid foodborne illnesses.

If it looks good, and smells good, it’s safe to eat. Right? Not always. Harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses can hide very well in foods. Keeping foods safe to eat can prevent stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and other dire symptoms caused by eating spoiled food.

Store foods safely:

* Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods when you shop for and store them. Follow instructions on package labels.

* Refrigerate foods that can spoil within two hours (one hour if the room or outdoor temperature is above 90°F).

* Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or lower; the freezer at or below 0°F.

* Wrap meat and poultry securely to prevent leakage onto other foods. Use foil or freezer wrap.

* High-acid canned foods, such as tomatoes and pineapple can be stored for 12 to 18 months. Low-acid canned foods, such as most vegetables will keep two to five years if kept in a cool, dry place.

Prepare foods safely:

* Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food.

* Rinse raw fruits and veggies under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking.

* Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.

* Use clean utensils and clean surfaces.

* Thaw frozen foods in the fridge or in cold water. You can also use the microwave if you are going to cook the food right away.

* Cook foods to a safe temperature.

Leftovers, anyone?

* Quickly refrigerate leftovers.

* Freeze ones that you do not intend to eat within two to four days.

* Reheat leftovers on the stove or in the oven or microwave until an internal temperature reaches 165°F.

* Keep hot foods higher than 140°F. Keep cold foods at 40°F or lower. Bacteria grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

Action Step

Find out about food recalls and alerts from your local news, national news, and from

www.FoodSafety.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Be Healthy At Each Cycle Of Life. Recycle Along The Way.

Home Safety

* Being healthy at each cycle of life includes healthy eating, exercising, getting quality sleep, and avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke. It also includes getting health tests and vaccines that you need.

* Re-use paper bags.

* Buy recycled products and items that come in recycled packaging.

* Donate usable items to others instead of adding them to the trash.

* Rely less on disposable products used for eating, cleaning, and grooming. Use rechargeable batteries.

* Recycle paper, newspapers, junk mail, aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic. Follow the recycling rules of your city. If you do not have home recycling, take items to a recycling collection center. To find one near you, call 800.CLEAN.UP (253.2687) or visitearth911.com. Involve the whole family in recycling. Recycle at your place of work. Encourage coworkers to do the same.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026