Home Safety Suggestions

1. Avoid clutter -- keep well-traveled areas free of throw rugs, runners, mats, cords (i.e., phone and electrical), step stools, toys, and shoes.

2. Avoid poorly fitted shoes and trailing bathrobes and sweaters.

3. Keep your home in good repair. Eliminate slippery surfaces such as icy walks and highly polished floors. Wipe up all spills immediately.

4. Keep all medications routinely used in a specified area. Make sure all medications are well labeled and easy to read.

5. Use extreme caution with stairs. Use handrails. Keep stairway well lit and avoid use of polishes on stairs.

6. Bathrooms should be well lit and floors should be clean and dry. Bathtubs should have rubber mats. Hand grips for tubs and commodes should be installed when needed.

7. Changes in position should be made slowly and carefully.

8. Any assistive devices used (i.e., cane, quad cane, walker) should have proper rubber tips on all ends.

9. There should never be any smoking in bed. Don't tuck electric blankets in around the edge of the bed as to avoid bending heating coils, which may cause a fire.  

10. Wheels on beds, commode chairs, wheelchairs, etc., should be locked when stationary. If side rails are appropriate, on hospital beds, they should be kept in the upright position when the patient is unsupervised.