Theme: Healthy Practices
Challenge: Accident Proof

This week, let's take a closer look at our homes. Let's do a room by room inventory and look for potential accidents waiting to happen. According to the Home Safety Council, home accidents cause 20,000 deaths in the United States each year, and what's just as striking, most of these accidents could be prevented. Household accidents fall into predictable categories and most have simple interventions that reduce the likelihood of an accident occurring.

Most common household accidents that lead to injuries/death:

• Falls
• Poisonings
• Suffocation
• Drowning
• Inadequate railings and banisters
• Unsafe storage of medications
• Water heaters set too high
• Firearms improperly stored or locked up

I've learned that simple steps such as getting rid of throw rugs, better lighting, installing bathroom grab bars, double checking how poisons and medicines are stored, and securing railings and banisters go a long ways toward reducing the risk of an accident. And guess what else helps? Eliminating clutter! The more things we have to maneuver around, the more likely they are to cause an accident.

This topic is very personal to me. In 2013, when I was out walking in the woods of my backyard, I tripped over a tree stump and had a bad fall. I didn't think much of it at the time, but when my right hip was still hurting three weeks later I went to see my doctor and she ordered an x-ray. The diagnosis: severe arthritis in my right hip. I had no pain, arthritis, or mobility challenges in my hip before that fall. In fact, I had been training to walk the New York City Marathon. But sometimes the impact of just one accident is substantial enough to cause permanent and irreparable damage. Five months later, the only way I could get around was by using a cane or a walker. Just getting a drink from my kitchen sink was extremely painful. And all from one single, likely avoidable fall. I was fortunate to get a new artificial hip, but the experience has made me acutely aware of how easily a life-changing accident can happen.

Many times I've thought, "If only I hadn't fallen. If only I'd been a little more careful." But that's what accidents do. They change the trajectories of our lives and put us on a different and less desirable path. And that's why I'm glad we are taking this week to focus on accident prevention. Most accidents in the home can be avoided. Let's take some time this week to make our homes as safe as possible.

This Week's Challenge: Do a room by room scan of your home, garage, basement and other living spaces looking for potential problems that could cause an accident. The suggested resources below list the biggest problem areas and have recommendations for simple steps that reduce the risk of an injury.


Let’s make it a safer week!

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Suggested Resources:

Home Accident Statistics: Is Your Home as Safe as You Think?
http://www.asecurelife.com/home-accident-statistics/

Preventing Home Accidents
http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/preventing-home-accidents

Watch Your Step While Washing Up
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/health/research/16stats.html

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