June is Home Safety Month!

Roanoke Fire-EMS and the Home Safety Council want to let you know that June is Home Safety Month.

Most Americans feel safest in their own home. However, unintentional injuries in the home result in nearly 21 million medical visits on average each year! Here are some safety steps to minimize your risk from potential injuries or even death.

Fires/Burns
· Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and in or near all bedrooms. Test them once a month and change the batteries twice a year!
· Plan a home fire drill and practice it with the entire family! Set up a safe meeting place outside of the house.
· Keep matches, candles and lighters out of the reach of children.
· Use safety covers in electrical outlets and anti-scald devices in faucets in home with young children.
Falls
· Make sure all porches, hallways and stairwells are well lit. Use the maximum safe wattage in light fixtures.
· Use a non-slip mat or install strips or decals in bathtubs and showers.
· Install grab bars in bath and shower stalls.
· Use night lights to prevent night time falls
· Use child safety gates to prevent children from falling down stairs.
Poisonings
· Keep medicines and household chemicals and cleaners up high, out of the reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
· Install a carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas in the home.
· Have the poison control center number (1-800-222-1222) near every phone.

By keeping your home as safe as possible, you can reduce the chance that you or someone you love will sustain an injury.

Take a few minutes and fill out our Home Safety Checklist. Make it a family event and involve your kids- it could save their lives!

For more information about Home Safety Month, please visit the Home Safety Council's Website at: http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/homesafetymonth/homesafetymonth.aspx,