Home Safety Checklist
Be Sure Your Home Is A Safe Environment
Stairs
- Be sure your stairs are safe.
- Repair broken or worn steps.
- Keep them free of clutter.
- Repair or install handrails on stairs, if possible.
- Good lighting on stairs can reduce your chance of falling. Add bright strips of tape to the edge of each stair where you step. They can help you see the stairs better.
Lighting
- Consider adding night lights in areas of your home where overhead lighting is lacking.
- A night light in the bathroom can make night trips to the bathroom easier.
- Always keep a charged flashlight near your bed for emergencies.
Trip Hazards
- Eliminate clutter.
- Shoes, electrical cords and magazines can be hazardous in walkways. Always keep walkways clear.
- Throw rugs are trip hazards. If you do not wish to remove them, they should be securely fastened with an adhesive or double stick tape.
Reaching
- Put regularly used items on shelves within easy reach between hip and eye level.
- A long-handled grasper can be used to reach objects that are on high shelves or on the floor.
Spills
- Spills on the floor can be dangerous. It is best to wipe up spills as soon as they happen.
Bathroom
- Always use a non-skid bathtub/shower mat.
- If you bathe in a shower, consider installing a non-skid shower chair and hand-held shower head so you can sit while bathing.
- Install grab bars or handrails in the shower, on walls around the bathtub, and alongside the toilet, where necessary.
- Avoid pulling up on the sink, towel bar or soap dish to get up from the toilet or bathtub. These fixtures are generally not securely fastened to the wall or floor, and are not intended to support your weight.
Furniture
- Try to sit on furniture with good back support that you can get into and out of easily. Firm chairs with armrests are easier to get out of. Add pillows to the back of the chair so your feet can touch the floor.
Emergency Contact
- In case of a fall, help is only a phone call away. Keep a phone and emergency numbers readily available.
Source: Temple University Fall Prevention Project