6 Health Hazards in Your Home That You Might Not Know

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A home is a place where you and your family can live safely, protected from hazards. However, often, a home hides countless safety dangers that you might not know or pay attention to. Because of these hazards, medical teams routinely deal with issues ranging from minor bruises and cuts to severe injuries. Most accidents happening in the house are pretty avoidable if proper attention is paid to them by making necessary changes at various parts of the house. Creating a safe living environment for everyone in the home must be a top priority for all members of the house.

Nevertheless, knowing these hazards is the first step to preventing them from happening in your house. These safety issues might be lurking at various corners. Here is a curation of the most common health hazards that might need your immediate attention. 

1. Asbestos In The House

One of the dangerous health hazards in older homes is the presence of asbestos, which is a fibrous material used as an insulator in older buildings. If your house was made before the 1980s, ensure that proper asbestos testing is carried out in your home. The mere presence of the material is not dangerous until it is disturbed, after which the fibrous dust can contaminate the indoor air. If there is any scratch or hole in the walls, call the experts to check for asbestos-related hazards. Asbestos is dangerous because its fibers can reach the pleural lining of the chest wall and lungs and cause scarring and inflammation. It is also among the most prominent causes of pleural mesothelioma.

2. Slippery Floors

Injuries due to falling on the wet and slippery floor are pretty common. This is the most common cause for the elderly to have a broken bone in the hip. This issue might not be grave for a young member of the house, but it becomes more serious for the elderly due to the slow rate of recovery owing to their age.  It most frequently happens in the bathroom, where it is often difficult to see if there is water on the floor with a shiny tiled surface. Another place where most falls occur in the house is the staircase. The odds are that you will come rolling down the stairs if you climb them without caution. Growing children learning to climb the stairs are most at risk of falling from the stairs. 

Ensure that the stairs are not wet and have the handrails well maintained. The bathroom floor should be kept dry at all times; make sure to have a wiper placed in the bathroom to sweep off the water after every use. Though not the most hygienic option, you can resort to carpeting the bathroom used by the elderly in the house. While taking precautions like keeping the floors dry and maintaining handrails is important, it can also be important to consider additional safety measures, especially for the elderly. Investing in modern technology, such as fall detection devices can offer an extra layer of safety to ensure that help is quickly available in case of an accident. These devices can ensure that help is quickly dispatched, reducing the risk of severe complications from falls.

3. Magnets 

Parents know how much babies like to put small objects in their mouths, and magnets are one of them. They are also one of the reasons causing choking in kids when ingested. When two tiny magnets join together in the gut, they act similar to a gunshot wound to the gut but without any entry or exit point. Often toys have magnets, but they are legal only if their label mentions meeting the safety standards. Always brace yourself against the tiny magnets in everyday products. Call your doctor immediately if you suspect that your child has swallowed a magnet. 

4. Fire In The House

Fire in the house can be another health hazard present in your home. The common reasons include an unattended candle, keeping the gas oven on even when not in use, fires from electrical sockets, throwing the cigarette without putting it off. Most of these fire hazards are avoidable with proper care and attention. You can also take other safety steps to prevent fire-related safety hazards. Safety measures include putting fire alarms in the house at places more susceptible to fire incidents, such as the kitchen, basement, etc. Make sure to periodically check the batteries of the fire alarms to keep your safety system always ready and in action. 

5. Chemical Products 

The presence of chemical cleaners, paints, pesticides, and other forms of poisonous liquids is another health hazard in your house. Elders may know about these chemicals, such as those used in bathrooms and laundry; the children are most at risk. They are always curious about everything placed inside a drawer or a cabinet.  Make sure these bottles and powders are not in the reach of the kids in the house. All the chemical bottles must be labeled either with their original label or a cautionary note such as “poisonous.” In the bathroom with lower cupboards, make sure to install high-quality childproof locks. Paints and pesticides should stay outside the house, either in the garage or shed. Also, never leave your kids unattended in the kitchen, keep all the kitchen cabinets closed all the time, and do not put anything hazardous in the food containers or bottles in the kitchen. 

6. Drowning

Children in the age group of one to four years are at a high risk of drowning. It is also a primary cause of death in this age group. Surprisingly, children at this age can down in two inches deep water. Therefore, take all your precautions to prevent such unfortunate incidents from happening. Do not let your kids unattended when they are bathing, especially in the bathtub. Stay vigilant and away from your smartphone even if they are taking a bath themselves; if the phone rings, leave it for another time; nothing can be more important than the safety of your kid. 

There is nothing more serious than the safety of your family. Therefore, it is essential to make sure no health hazards are lurking in your house. Most health hazards present in the house are avoidable with proper care. Knowing about these hazards and their precautions is the first step to living in the house peacefully. From baby-proofing the electrical sockets to installing a fire alarm to keeping all the chemicals away from your kids, to putting baby-proof locks, there is a lot you can do to prevent unfortunate incidents from happening to you and your family.