Most Americans are likely to rate their homes as safe when compared with highways, city streets, or workplaces.

Even so, home injuries result in more than 21 million medical visits and 20,000 deaths across the U.S. each year.

To keep you and your family safe and secure, use this checklist to inspect your home and correct any safety issues.

Overall Safety

• My house number is clearly visible from the street, enabling medical emergency personnel, firemen, and police to quickly and easily find my home.
• All firearms are unloaded and stored and locked properly.

Burn Prevention

• Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are installed on each level of my home, including the basement and attic. I replace the batteries twice a year.
• I’ve practiced an emergency evacuation plan in case of fire.
• The hot water heater is set to 120 degrees or less.
• I store flammable liquids and chemicals in tight, properly labeled containers away from heat and electricity. Gasoline and similar substances are kept in a storage building or garage.
• Extension cords aren’t overloaded.
• Cords on lamps, appliances, power tools, and other electronics are in good repair.
• The fireplace chimney is cleaned annually.

Poisoning Prevention

• Pesticides, cleaning solutions, bleach, and other hazardous chemicals are properly stored out of children’s reach.
• Chemicals and medicines are stored in their original containers.
• The poison-control hotline number, 800-222-1222, is programmed into my home and cell phones.
• I dispose of expired medicines.

Fall Prevention

• Grab bars are installed, as needed, in showers and bathtubs.
• Floors, especially halls and stairs, are kept free of clutter.
• Stairways are well lit.
• All stairs have sturdy railings.
• All loose carpet or linoleum is tacked down or repaired.
• Ladders are used properly.
• Nonskid mats or decals are installed in showers and bathtubs.

Drowning Prevention

• In- and above-ground pools are properly fenced in.
• Children are never left alone in a bathtub, around buckets, or in a pool.

Using common sense and being alert to potential hazards can prevent most home accidents. The next step is to be prepared if a health emergency occurs by taking a first aid course that includes CPR training.

For more information, visit the Home Safety Council at www.mysafehome.net.

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