You may think you are safe at home, but according to the National Safety Council, there were 33,000 deaths and 8 million injuries connected to the home in 2002. If you want to rest easy, there are certain precautions you can take.
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Check your smoke detectors. Fire kills more than 2,900 people and injures 16,000 each year, and most fires break out when people are asleep. Install a smoke detector on each floor and outside each bedroom. Change the batteries at least twice a year.
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Buy carbon monoxide detectors. In the United States, more deaths occur from carbon monoxide poisoning than from any other type of poisoning, and it is the leading cause of injury and death due to poisoning worldwide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas. Detectors are relatively inexpensive costing between $40 and $170.
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Invest in nightlights. A simple nightlight could prevent you from tumbling down the stairs and breaking your back, hip or neck.
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Drop a few bucks on outdoor motion-sensor lights. Not only will they help you see your way, they also can scare off would-be burglars. Usually you can replace light fixtures with motion-sensor lights without any additional wiring.
Other tidbits for staying safe at home include having deadbolt locks, rubber suction bath mats, handrails on stairs, fire extinguishers, flashlights, a fire evacuation plan and by positioning local emergency numbers on the refrigerator.
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