Mississippi has one of the highest rates of death from unintentional injuries in the nation.
Unintentional injuries have many causes, both indoors and outdoors. The leading risks in the home come from:
- Fire and burns
- Falls
- Poison
Fires and Burns
Preventing fires in the home
- Make sure that a working smoke alarm is on every floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. Test each smoke alarm every month, and replace the batteries at least once a year.
- Plan and practice a home fire drill with your family that includes at least two exits from a room.
- Choose a meeting place outside your home and make sure your whole family knows about it.
- Make sure that the temperature on your water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
More Fire Prevention Information
- homefiredrill.orgA variety of resources on fire prevention for parents and children
Falls
Avoiding falls at home
- Use brighter lights in your home, especially around stairs and other hazardous places.
- Add night lights in hallways, bathrooms and other frequently-used parts of the house.
- Make sure that your stairs and steps have handrails along both sides.
- Keep stairways and other pathways clear of clutter.
- If you have a toddler or small child, put a baby gate in place at the top and bottom of your stairs.
Poison
Safeguard kids from poisoning
- Keep household chemicals in locked cabinets.
- Store poisons out of reach of children.
- Keep the number for the Mississippi Poison Control Center handy: 1-800-222-1222
