Are you safe doing your day to day activities in your home?

Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital’s Home Health Care Agency RN staff relate, “Making choices to enjoy good health includes making your home as safe as possible for you and your family. There are numerous ways to protect you and your family around your home.”

Most falls in the home occur in bathrooms, bedrooms and stairs, due to slippery floors, inadequate lighting or lighting that causes a glare, electrical cords in pathways, loose rugs, raised thresholds and clutter.

If a wheelchair or other assistive device is used, make sure you have been educated regarding how to properly use it. Wheelchairs and other assistive devices need to be individualized to your needs and abilities by a professional healthcare provider.
Keep glasses, hearing aids and other personal necessities in easily accessible places, and use chairs with armrests.

Safety tips for Stairs/Hallways/Passageways:

• Provide enough light to see steps clearly and keep them free from clutter.
  
• Cover stairs with tightly woven carpet or nonslip treads.
  
• Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairway.
  
• Wear shoes at all times while maneuvering on stairs.
  
• Eliminate obstacles between bed and bathroom.

Safety tips for your Bathroom:

• Keep a night-light on in the bathroom.
  
• Use bathroom rugs with non-skid backing.
  
• Install handrails in the bathtub, shower and toilet areas.
  
• Place a rubber mat or non-skid strips on the bathtub or shower floor.
  
• Leave the bathroom door unlocked so it can be opened from both sides.
  
• Set water temperature to 120 degrees or lower.
  
• Check water for correct temperature prior to getting into the tub.
  
• Consider use of bedside commode or raised toilet seat if needed.

Safety tips for the Kitchen:

• Organize cupboards so that frequently used items are on lower shelves.
  
• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves while cooking.
  
• Use a stable step stool with handrails.
  
• Arrange storage at counter level and heavy items on lower levels.
  
• Use bright light in the kitchen above the stove, sink, and countertop areas.
  
• Clean up spills as soon as they happen and do not wax floors.
  
• Locate towels and curtains away from the stove.
  
• Do not leave cooking unattended for extended periods of time.

Safety tips in the Living Area

• Arrange furniture to provide an open pathway between rooms.
  
• Remove low tables, footrests and other items from the pathway.
  
• Keep electrical and telephone cords out of the pathway.

Safety tips for the Bedroom

• Remove throw rugs, extension cords and other floor clutter.
  
• Install a bedroom night-light.
  
• Use a normal-height bed. Before leaving the bed, elderly people should sit on the edge of the bed for a moment to make sure they are not dizzy.
  
• Place lamp or light switches within reach of the bed.
  
• Remove ashtrays and smoking materials from the bedroom.
  
• Shut heating pads off prior to going to sleep.
  
• Do not tuck in side of electric blanket.
  
• Keep telephone at bedside at all times while in bed.
  
• Make sure bed is locked if wheels present, stabilize furnishings.
  
• Make sure crib rails are latched.
  
• Split and full bed rails have the potential to cause fall-related injuries as well as entrapment. Any time these are used, safety measures should be addressed and patient/family need to be educated regarding potential dangers.
  
• Consider a call bell or bed alarm and keep within easy reach.
  
• Consider overhead trapeze if needed.

Footwear:

• Wear low-heeled shoes with nonskid soles.
  
• Wear shoes with a fairly snug fit and keep them tied.
  
• Avoid shoes with thick, heavy soles.

Safety tips for the Basement/Garage:

• Use only correct fuse sizes or boxes.
  
• Store gasoline, solvents, and similar products in a covered container away from heat.
  
• Clean up spills promptly.
  
• Do not stockpile old newspapers and/or cleaning cloths.
  
• Use bright light in work areas.
  
• Use power tool guards at all times when using tools.

Safety tips for Outside your Home:

• Clear entranceways of leaves, snow, and ice.
  
• Use bright lighting.

Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital’s Home Care Agency services cover all of Crawford County and parts of Grant, Vernon and Richland Counties in Wisconsin and Allamakee and Clayton Counties in Iowa. For more information, you may Home Health at 608-357-2262 or 1-800-542-6331.