Jot down what you already know about each of the items listed below, or go over this list with your spouse, your children, or a friend, and use it as a basis for discussion.

What I know about safety and wellness with regard to:

• icy sidewalks and steps
• the use and maintenance of stairs and handrails
• slippery floors and movable area rugs
• wet, slippery surfaces, especially bathtubs
• children’s access to prescription or over the counter drugs
• out of date prescriptions or over the counter drugs
• seat belts and air bags
• automobile tires, wiper blades, and antilock brakes
• car seats for children
• the speed limit
• driving or operating machinery while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• escape plans in case of fire either at home or away
• overloaded, improperly fused electrical outlets
• poorly protected electrical wires
• the use of electrical equipment near water
• space heaters
• storing cleaning products, medicines, and poisons in homes where children live or visit
• using household cleaning products and pesticides that contain toxic substances
• emergency phone numbers
• the accessibility of first aid supplies
• first aid skills for choking, burns, shock, and so on
• protection from high sound and noise levels
• safe disposal of paints, paint thinners, gasoline, and oil
• children’s toys

This list is not comprehensive. It is a place to start. We suggest that you add to it by taking a slow walk through and around your home, looking for safety hazards. Make notes about what needs to be done to make your home safe. Check off items that need attention soon. Prioritize your checked items. Take a calendar and assign, in order of priority, one or more items to this week, and one or more items to each week thereafter, until all obvious potential hazards have been handled.

If you need more information about any of the items on your list, the web and your public library are excellent resources. Also, consult the front pages of your phonebook, which should have a survival guide and a list of emergency phone numbers. Call your local Red Cross for information about safety training.

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