
By Lorie Lewis Ham
According to Drive Research, 52% of Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day. While many of those celebrations are romantic, it is also a perfect time to celebrate the love we have for our family. One way to show that love is by keeping them safe. This is something that has become an even greater concern with the multitude of fires and severe weather that have been occurring lately.
There are many ways that we can help keep our families safe when they are away from home. You can make sure any family member who drives has proper driver safety training. You can remind them not to stay out in the heat or cold too long when there are extreme temperatures, and that they are properly dressed for the weather. It is also a good idea for them to have a cell phone so they can call for help in an emergency.
But what about when they are home? Are there things you can do to make your home a safer place? The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has a long list of tips. Here are a few of them:
- Properly storing poisons and medications—making certain no one will take them by mistake and that they are out of the hands of children and pets.
- Install Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors in your home.
- Make sure you have a family escape plan.
- Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of children’s reach, and never smoke in bed, as that is the leading cause of fire-related deaths.
- Keep anything that can catch fire away from fireplaces, heaters, and radiators. Replace frayed electrical wires.
- Take care to avoid kitchen fires and burns. Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Turn pot handles toward the inside of the stove so children cannot grab them. Install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Set water-heater thermostats below 120 degrees F (50 degrees C).
- Learn CPR and First Aid. Have a First Aid Kit on hand.
- Have a locked fence around your pool if you have small children or pets.
- Keep electric appliances away from water.
Safety Talk Ideas.com lists three eye-opening safety statistics relating to home safety. There were an estimated 1.1 million burglaries that occurred in the U.S. in 2019. Approximately 12,000 children and young adults die from unintentional injuries each year. There are over 350,000 home structure fires per year in the United States (this year may be higher due to the recent devastating fires in Southern CA). Their website also includes some more great home safety tips, such as installing a smart doorbell, installing locks and sensors on windows, and a deadbolt on doors. They also suggest buying a delivery box protection system because so many packages are stolen these days off doorsteps and out of regular mailboxes. Products such as secure package delivery boxes can help to secure your packages. They also suggest getting a home security system. ConsumerAffairs.com offers a list of what they consider to be the top six security companies and a checklist to go through to find the one that best meets your needs.
Ready.gov offers suggestions on making an emergency plan should you ever need to evacuate. It’s something none of us want to think about, but it is another good way of keeping those you love safe.
Something else to consider when it comes to making your family safe is having the insurance you need. Mennonite Aid Plan/Mennonite Insurance Services is here to help. Now is the perfect time to check your coverage and make sure you have everything you need to protect your home, car, and family. Just call (559) 638-2327 to talk with an agent who will be happy to answer your questions. This Valentine’s Day month let’s do all we can to protect those we love.