Safety NZ Week - One person is injured in their home every 56 seconds!
In New
Zealand, more injuries happen at home than at work, on the road or
while playing sport. The most common cause was slips, trips
and falls, which accounted for 41 per cent of ACC home injury
claims last year.
Furthermore, the number of people dying as a result of accidents
in the home is continuing to increase - it now stands at 12 deaths
per week, according to Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
data.
Safety NZ Week runs from 15-21 August 2011 focuses on
safety in homes. Geneva Care would like to reinforce this
message and remind everyone to take just a few small steps to
reduce the risk of injury in their own home and the homes of the
people we care for.
Here are a few home injury facts and simple changes you
can make this week:
Slips, trips and falls make up 41% of all home accidents.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Wear non-slip shoes inside.
More than 17,000 accidents occur in bathrooms each year.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Use non-slip mats in the bath and
shower.
133 kids injure themselves running through glass or falling out of
a window every single week.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Make sure that you can see glass doors - add
stickers or a frosted panel to make them more visible.
There are 87 stair-related accidents every day that result in an
ACC claim. That's 610 people a week.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Flick the light switch on when you use the
stairs.
Last year 5,400 people were injured using a ladder at home - that's
15 people every day.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Don't over reach sideways.
40% of homes have dangerously hot water.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: Ensure your hot water is 55°C at the
tap.
The more alcohol you drink the greater your risk of
injury.
ONE SIMPLE CHANGE: If you are organising a party at home, plan
activities so drinking isn't the focus.
For more simple changes you can make this week visit www.homesafety.co.nz
Top ten tips to staying safe at home
Good lighting - Keep stairs and hallways
well-lit, with a light switch at either end. Also, run two light
bulbs off the switch, so if one goes you've still got the
other.
Wear slippers inside, not socks - Socks can be
very slippery on wooden floors.
Fix down mats and carpets - Mats that move and
carpets that curl up are common causes of trips and slips, so
immediately fix a carpet if it's starting to lift or rip. Use
nonskid backing, double-sided tape or Velcro strips on mats to keep
them in one place.
Use a rubber non-slip mat in the bath or shower
- And use a bathmat when you get out so you don't leave
slippery puddles on the tiled or lino floor.
Be safe when up a ladder or stepladder - Make
sure your ladder has nothing broken or missing, is standing on a
firm, level surface, and is well secured. If you can, ask someone
to hold it steady for you.
Hot water temperature - Get your hot water
checked by a registered plumber to ensure it's at the right
temperature. It should be 55 degrees Celsius at the tap and 60
degrees Celsius at the cylinder.
Make glass doors and windows visible - Some
frosting, coloured glass, stickers or decoration could stop someone
walking into or through a glass door or window. If you're building
or renovating, use safety glass that won't break if walked
into.
Keep looking when you're cooking - Cooking is a
very common cause of house fires, so never leave the room if
something's on the stove, especially if it's oil or fat.
Lock away poisons and medicines - Keep all
medicines and household cleaners etc up high and out of a child's
reach. Better yet, lock the cupboards and/or install
child-locks.
Working smoke alarms - Install smoke alarms in
bedrooms, sleep outs, hallways and living rooms. The best all-round
alarms are photoelectric smoke alarms, which sense both heat and
light. Test them regularly and keep them well-dusted.