- To prevent asthma attacks, eliminate sources of mold, dust, and
insects, such as cockroaches. If you have a pet, keep it and its
bedding clean and keep the pet off the furniture.
- If you must smoke, avoid smoking in the house, and especially
around children.
- Make sure furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space
heaters, and gas appliances are vented properly and inspected
annually.
- Use safety gates to block stairways (and other danger areas),
safety plugs to cover electrical outlets, and safety latches for
drawers and cabinets.
- Keep children and the furniture they can climb on
away from windows.
|
- Install window guards (on windows that are not fire emergency
exits).
- To prevent falls, keep hallways and stairways well-lit and use
non-slip backing for area rugs.
- Keep cleaning solutions, pesticides, and other potentially
dangerous substances in their original, labeled containers, and out
of the reach of children.
- Test homes built before 1978 for lead paint. Call 1-888-LEADLIST
for certified inspectors. Ask your doctor or health department if
your child should be tested for lead.
- If you have guns or rifles in your home, store the firearms and
ammunition in separate containers and lock them out of the reach of
children.
|
- Learn First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR).
- Keep an updated list of emergency telephone numbers, including
your local poison control center, physician and hospital emergency
room, next to every phone in your home.
- Have your home tested for radon. If levels are above EPAs
recommended level, call 1-800-557-2366 to find out about ways to
reduce the levels.
- Make sure your family knows what to do during a natural disaster.
In an earthquake, drop to the floor and get under something sturdy
for cover; during a tornado, take shelter in a basement or an
interior room without windows; and during a hurricane stay away from
windows. Have handy supplies of food, flashlights, and water.
|