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Accident Prevention and Safety

According to the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, tens of thousands of people are injured or killed in accidents each year. Many of these accidents are preventable. The best way to prevent an accident is to take steps to ensure your surroundings at home or at work are set up with safety in mind.

  1. Basic Accident Prevention

    • When thinking about safety and accident prevention, create safety checklists for different areas of a building (such as the kitchen, outdoor areas, walls, electrical equipment and so on). Items to include in checklists include locking drawers and cabinets that contain hazardous materials, keeping sharp objects in protective covers, keeping multiple cords bundled, making sure walkways are free of items that could cause people to trip and ensuring that all walking surfaces outdoors are not slippery. Use anti-slip pads under rugs that are not secure, install brackets on bookshelves on bookcases and cabinets to prevent them from tipping over and make sure the banisters and handrails on stairs are securely installed.

    Lifting Safety

    • When considering how to lift things safely, first determine how much you can lift based on how often you will be lifting objects, if bending or twisting will be involved, how high the object will have to be lifted and the length of time you’ll be holding the object. Before lifting a heavy object, decide whether you’ll be able to lift the item on your own or if you’ll require machinery or the help of another person. Also keep good posture in mind: Bend at the knees when picking a heavy object up, and use your legs, not your back, to support its weight.

    Electricity

    • Prevent electric shocks by making sure power cords are securely plugged into an outlet. Replace cords that are frayed, and never nail or staple cords to a wall. When using extension cords, don’t overload them, and use them only as a temporary solution. Repair electrical appliances if they cause circuit breakers to trip or fuses to blow.

    Fire and Burns

    • Prevent fires by not placing any objects on or around a space heater. Make sure all fire and smoke alarms in a building work properly and test them monthly. When using a candle, never leave it unattended.

      Prevent burns by keeping chemicals out of the reach of children; handle chemicals while wearing gloves. Don’t wear long, loose sleeves while cooking and keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Keep the temperature on water heaters under 120?F; it only takes a few seconds for water hotter than this to burn the skin.

    Learn First Aid and CPR

    • Know how to help yourself or another person who has had an accident until emergency help arrives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that injuries from accidents kill more people between the ages of 1 and 44 than any diseases or illnesses. Take first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes to learn how to prevent a person from going into shock, to restore breathing and heartbeat and to prevent wounds from becoming infected.

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