March 2007 Safety Tip

Falls

Year in and year out, falls remain a major source of injuries at home and at work. There are several high-hazard areas that require extra attention.

Stairs

• Make sure stairways are well-lit. It is easier to lose your balance in the dark.
• Make sure that handrails are installed and sturdy. Wooden handrails are easy to install.
• If the surface of the steps is slippery, you can install different sorts of safety treads. A common sort is self-sticking and waterproof, and is made from a non-skid material.
• Try to keep one hand free so that you can hold the handrail as you ascend or descend.
• If you are carrying something heavy or unwieldy, get help.
• Don't store things on steps or allow stuff to accumulate on them.

Kitchen

• Clean spills of food, water or other liquids right away.
• As in the bathroom, throw rugs should have a slip-resistant back or mat beneath.

Bathroom

• Showers and tubs are obvious places for painful slips that can be prevented with non-skid strips and rubber bath mats.
• If you have rugs on your bathroom floor, make sure they have a non-skid backing or put a slip-resistant mat beneath.

Outdoor walkways

• If the surface gets icy, keep sand or rock salt on hand to spread where people walk.
• Never run an extension cord where someone might walk.
• Keep furniture and other objects out of common paths of travel.