There are few areas that are more important to us in terms of safety than our homes, particularly for our children. Unfortunately, accidents happen at the home quite frequently. According to The State of Home Safety in America released in 2004 by the Home Safety Council over 21 million medical visits and 20,000 deaths are the result of unintentional injuries at the home. The states leading this statistic are New Mexico, Mississippi, and Arizona. Most of these injuries and accidents are avoidable. Home accidents and criminal victimization can be avoided with proper preparation and planning.

Fire Safety

In 2005, residential fires caused nearly $7 billion in property damage. There are several aspects to fire and home safety that you can easily do to reduce the risk to your family and your home.

• Have a Plan: Preparing for accidents and fires can safe life and avoid injury. A critical component of home safety preparation is developing a plan of action in the event of a fire. Fires can happen at any time, even in the middle of the night. Understanding what to do and where to go before you are in a crisis situation is often the difference in life or death. Post emergency numbers at each phone and help young children understand how to contact the fire department or police. Prepare an escape route for each person and identify the locations of fire extinguishers with your family. Post these escape routes in each room as a daily reminder. Finally, make sure you practice with your family the fire drills as often as needed.
  
• Early Detection: Statistics show that approximately half of home fires occur between the times of 8pm and 8am. It is essential to home safety and the protection of your family that you install reliable fire alarms in every room of your house. Frequently check the batteries and alarm signals to ensure that your fire alarms are functioning properly. Security World offers a full range of environmental alarms and test kits to watch out for harmful and deadly substances such as monoxide, asbestos, pesticides, and more.
  
• Burns & First Aid: : In addition to fire prevention devices, such as alarms and extinguishers, make sure to have first aid kits with burn treatment readily available in your home and vehicles. Early treatment can reduce pain and irritation, can often shorten recovery time, and can prevent other complications such as infection. In the event of a serious injury, be sure to seek proper medical attention.
  

Robbery Protection

Criminal victimization within the home can result in substantial property damage, emotional trauma, and even physical injury. Police departments warn that criminals will likely target “easy” homes. This means that homes that are not as protected or prepared are more likely to attract burglars because the likelihood of a successful robbery and risk of being apprehended is lower.

What can you do to dissuade home invaders and protect your family and property?

• Lighting: Proper lighting around the home can be a big deterrent to criminal victimization. In addition, inappropriate behavior around your home can be easily detected by your family, neighbors, and police patrols in clear lighting. There are several ways to ensure that your home is protected and properly illuminated without spending a lot of money on the electric bill. Two of the best products on the market are timer lights and motion sensor lights. Timer lights are particularly effective while you are away from your home to give the appearance of occupancy to outside observers. Both will scare off burglars and prowlers as they find easier homes to target.
  
• Windows & Doors: : The locks on your doors and windows are one of the few things that protect you from robbers and burglars. It only makes sense then to ensure that you have reliable and tested locking mechanisms in place. There is more you can do beyond simple deadbolts and key locks to ensure that even an experienced and persistent criminal will be deterred from picking your locks. Items that are easy to use and effective are essential to protecting your home, such as keyed window locks, chain guards, the door club, and patio security bars. All of these items add a major increase in the protection of your home, but are easy to use by all ages of the family with proper instruction.
  
• Home Alarms: If a burglar or home invader gets past your exterior lights and window and door locks, you need to be alerted immediately. Home alarms are vital to home safety. In addition to alerting your family that an intruder is trying to get into your home, the sound of the alarm is enough to drive off most criminals and alert proper authorities of criminal behavior in the neighborhood. There are many varieties of alarms available and it is a good policy to get a mix for the utmost protection. Items such as the door chime, motion sensors, and window glass break alarms are a great way to start. Make sure that you install your home safety alarms properly and consult a home security installation service as needed.
  
• Gun Safety: While having a gun in the home can add to a sense of security against home invasion, it is important to take the necessary steps to secure your firearms from children and theft. Criminals are often armed with stolen guns. The rate of accidental shootings in the home is unnecessarily high, as well. Proper firearm protection can be accomplished with a gun safe. Available in all sizes and requirements, gun safes will ensure that your firearms are accessible by only the proper individuals.
  

Avoiding Injury

Statistics show that a great deal of personal injury occurs in the home. The cost of home injuries ($113.5 billion) is equivalent to an $89,300 rebate on each new single-family home built in 1998, or 52 cents of every dollar of property taxes paid in 1998. Most of these injuries are completely avoidable. Make sure that your family understands proper behavior in avoiding injury, such as the danger of wet floors, household chemicals, and exotic pets.

Here are some easy solutions to use as part of your strategy to avoid accidental injury in the home.

• Child Proofing: Young children are renowned for their curiosity as they learn about the world around them. As parents and guardians, it is our job to ensure that they have adequate protection against their living environmental. The home is filled with many potential hazards, such as hot stove tops and ovens, drawers filled with knives, medication cabinets, household cleaners and chemicals, and electrical outlets. The answers to these potential dangers are simple and easy on the pocket book, such as drawer safety latches, oven locks, electric outlet covers, stove top shield, corner cushions, and more. Protecting our children is the primary goal of any parent and with a few easy solutions you can child proof your home to reduce the risk of injury or harm to your little ones.
  
• Elder Care: Often old age can result in reduced coordination or judgment. In the result of injury to an older person, simplicity is the key. Distress can often lead to confusion or immobility that prevents them from seeking proper assistance and care. In addition, modern technology is not designed for older members of the family with poor eyesight and reduced manual coordination. It is important to give them the tools to get assistance in the event of an emergency that are reliable and easy to use. The 911 Guardian Phone is a small, convenient communication device that will grandpa or grandma access to the 911 emergency phone line with the press of a single button.
  
• First Aid: Unfortunately, even with proper planning and preparation for home safety, injuries could still occur. It is important to prepare for this possibility as well as for prevention. Treatment for cuts, bruises, burns, and sprains can be provided through first aid kits . Make sure that you have a first aid kit in multiple locations of your home, including each of your vehicles, for quick and easy access in the case of an emergency.