Following on from our very popular guest blog series so far,this week we are tackling some of the dangers to be found in property. Today’s blog is from Alison Persson who has a very different slant on our ‘dangers in property week’.
Is your home dangerous and unhealthy?
If someone asked you to describe your home you are unlikely to list the unsafe and unhealthy features within your home. But it is a sad fact that there are 4,000 deaths and 2.7 million hospital treatments a year resulting from accidents in the home; plus numerous hospital admissions for respiratory and skin problems resulting from contact with cleaning chemicals in the home.
Let’s take a walk round your home and see what changes could be made.
Bathroom
Do you have a shower? How about instead of replacing the old shower with a new one that you turn your bathroom in to a wet room.
Getting rid of a shower stops someone tripping on the shower tray and breaking a toe. Wet rooms are great for everyone and add value to your home. Check out various wet room options here.
Kitchen
When you had the new lighting installed in your kitchen did you make sure that the electrician was qualified (Part P Accredited and had the 17th Edition Standard)? Check out with Electrical Contractors Association to find a qualified electrician in your area.
Whilst we are you in your kitchen let’s just check that your kettle, toaster, food mixer and blender do not have worn wiring. Better to get a new toaster rather than an electric shock.
Chemicals
Do you get a runny nose and eyes when oven cleaner is used? Let’s get rid of all those toxic chemicals in the cleaning cupboard. Suggest you take a look at and use natural cleaning products. And what about the toxic chemicals you are breathing in from your carpet? When you are next booking up carpet cleaning choose a company that uses natural chemicals. Also please get rid of all those plug in smell stuff and room sprays. Let’s open the windows to air the room and use essential oils instead.
Hall
Do you need to put on a hard hat before you open the hall cupboard? Time to stop the cupboard become a dumping area and have a tidy up.
Living Room
Do make sure that all glass external and internal doors and windows have safety glass and not ordinary glass.
My first aid skills are OK but I’m not likely to be with you if you should fall through your non safety glass door.
Decorative safety glass comes in a myriad of forms nowadays. Have a look at this wonderful site when choosing to use glass in your home.
Bedroom
And now all is sorted in your home and you can sleep peacefully. But can you? The smoke alarms sitting in a box is not going to be any good to you in a fire. Smoke inhalation will cause death before the flames do and without a smoke alarm you are unlikely to wake up from your sleep. If you do only do one thing today to make your home safer and healthier, then please do make sure it is to get the smoke alarms installed in your home.
