By Jean Erdtmann, R.N., Senior Director, Preparedness and Health and Safety Services, American Red Cross

When family members are away from home - whether it's a business trip, a visit to a friend's house or even a short drive to run errands - it's natural to be concerned about their safety and well-being. But did you know the majority of accidents occur in the home? While we all like to think we've created a safe haven for our families, about 6.8 million
accidents occur in the home every year. Even more urprising is the fact that accidental injuries at home are the number one killer of children in the United States.

With that in mind, when was the last time you performed a home safety check? Last week? Last year? Never? If your answer is "never," you're not alone. The majority of people have never taken a good look around their home
to discover hidden dangers simply because they don't know what hazards to look for. They want things to function in their home a certain way, even if that means having 15 devices plugged into one outlet using multiple extension cords. That's why every family needs to conduct a home hazard hunt.

A home hazard hunt doesn't have to be boring or scary. In fact, it can be a fun game that gets everyone involved and working together. The rules are simple: Each person has a checklist of hazards to look for. Then, everyone walks around the house. When you find a hazard on your list, make a note of it. By the game's end, you'll have a complete list of items that you need to fix within your home to make it safer.

Use the following checklist to guide your home hazard hunt. Break the list up into sections so each family member can participate.

· General Safety Precautions for Inside the Home
Are stairways kept clear and uncluttered?
Are stairs and hallways well lit?
Are safety gates installed at tops and bottoms of stairways?
Are guards installed around fireplaces, radiators, hot pipes, and wood-burning stoves?
Are sharp edges of furniture cushioned with corner guards or other material?
Are curtain cords and shade pulls kept out of children's reach?
Are fire extinguishers installed where they are most likely to be needed?
Are smoke alarms installed and in working order? Are batteries changed at least every 6 months?
Do you have an emergency plan to use in case of fire? Does your family practice this plan?
Is the hot water heater set at a safe temperature? (A setting of 120° F or less prevents scalding from tap water in sinks and in tubs. Let the water run for 3 minutes before testing it.)
If you have a gun, is it unloaded in a locked place, out of reach of children and stored separately from ammunition?
Are all purses, handbags, briefcases and similar items, including those belonging to visitors, kept out of children's reach?
Are all poisonous plants kept out of children's reach?
Is a list of emergency phone numbers posted near telephones? Is the Poison Control Center hotline number (800-222-1222) posted near all phones and
programmed into your mobile phone?
Is a list of instructions posted near telephones for use by children or babysitters?

· Bathroom
Are the toilet seat and lid kept down when the toilet is not in use?
Are cabinets equipped with safety latches and kept closed?
Are all medicines in child resistant containers and stored in a locked medicine cabinet?
Are shampoos and cosmetics stored out of children's reach?
Are razors, razor blades, and other sharp objects kept out of children's reach?
Are hair dryers and other appliances stored away from the sink, tub, or toilet?
Does the bottom of the tub or shower have non-slip surfacing?

· Kitchen
Are knives and other sharp items kept out of children's reach?
Is the highchair placed away from the stove and other hot appliances?
Are matches and lighters, all appliance cords, and cleaning products kept out of children's reach?
Are cabinets equipped with safety latches?

· Child's Room
Is the bed or crib placed away from radiators and other hot surfaces?
Are crib slats no more than 2-3/8 inches apart?
Does the mattress fit the sides of the crib snugly?
Is children's clothing, especially sleepwear, flame resistant?
Does the toy box have a secure lid and safe-closing hinges?
Are electric cords kept out of children's reach?
Are toys in good repair and appropriate for children's ages?

· Parents' Bedroom
Are space heaters kept away from curtains and flammable materials?
Are cosmetics, perfumes, and breakable items stored out of children's reach?
Are small objects, such as jewelry, buttons and safety pins, kept out of children's reach?

· Outside the Home
Is trash kept in tightly covered containers?
Are walkways, stairs, and railings in good repair?
Are walkways and stairs free of toys, tools, and other objects?
Are sandboxes and wading pools covered when not in use?
Are nearby swimming pools enclosed with a fence that children cannot easily
climb over?
Is the backyard pool separated from the home's entrance by a fence?
Is playground equipment safe? Is it assembled according to the manufacturer's instructions?

· Child Safety
Are there too many cords hanging around curtains or window treatments?
Do you have too many electrical cords plugged into outlets that could cause
a potential fire hazard?
Are smoke detectors installed and working? Have you installed a carbon monoxide alarm?
Are all poisonous substances, such as cleaning supplies, medicines, and plants, kept out of children's reach?
Are foods and small items that can choke a child kept out of reach?

General Safety Procedures
In addition to using the checklist above to create a safer environment, you should check the following behaviors to ensure that you act in a safe manner around your family. Make sure you incorporate these activities into your
lifestyle to make your family safe:
Teach your child safety by behaving safely in your own everyday activities.
Supervise your child whenever he or she is around water and maintain fences and gates that act as barriers to water.
Teach your children to never approach strange dogs or wild animals.
Always watch young children while in the bathroom.
Have an emergency plan to use in case of fire. Have your family practice this plan.
Cook on back stove burners when possible and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
Keep hot dishes away from the edges of tables and counters.
Keep hot liquids and foods out of children's reach.
Test the temperature of heated food before feeding children.

The Home and Beyond
Now that you know what hazards to fix in your home, you need to go a step further. Inspect your office, cubicle, or workspace for potential hazards that could hurt you while on the job. Also inspect your child's daycare center, school, babysitter's home, or wherever your child spends time for
potential safety and health hazards. Finally, make sure everyone in your household is trained in first aid and CPR so that if an accident should occur in the home, you have a first response team on hand to help until paramedics arrive.
Home really should be the one place where everyone feels safe. So take the steps now to reduce your chances of a household injury. Doing so will not only give you peace of mind, but also a more welcoming and safe environment
for those you love.

For more information on family first aid and emergency preparedness, check with your local American Red Cross chapter or visit www.redcross.org.  For additional information on taking care of your loved ones, you can order a
copy of the American Red Cross book/DVD  "A Family Guide to First Aid and Emergency Preparedness" by phone at (800) 667-2968 or online at www.redcrossstore.org.