This post is sponsored by Senior Helpers®. FabOverFifty greatly appreciates its support, and is pleased to help communicate this valuable information!
This is National Safety Month, and FabOverFifty is partnering with Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier, in-home senior care provider, to show you how to prevent common situations at home from turning into emergencies!
Senior Helpers is dedicated to delivering professionally trained caregivers, so your loved ones can continue to enjoy the comforts of their own homes, despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges. It is the first in-home senior care company in the industry to offer specialized training for Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease care. “These devastating diseases greatly impact patients, as well as their families,” said Geri Brin, Founder of FabOverFifty. “It is comforting to be able to call on a valuable, expert organization like Senior Helpers to help us and our loved ones lead the best lives possible during trying times.”
Here are seven familiar situations we all encounter at home, plus the smart and simple things we should do to keep them from becoming disasters.
1. Power Outage: Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics. Don’t forget to leave one light turned on so you’ll know when the power returns.
2. Broken Glass: Don’t use the vacuum! Instead, sweep up the large pieces of glass, then use a slice of soft sandwich bread to safely pick up the remaining shards and dust-like particles.
3. Kitchen Fires: 90% of home fires begin in the kitchen. If a fire starts in a pan, put a lid or damp cloth on it to suffocate the flames. If the fire is in the oven, turn the oven off, leave the door closed, and wait until the oxygen runs out.
4. Blocked Drain: One of the most common annoyances around the house can be fixed much of the time with a simple baking soda and vinegar solution. Mix ⅓ cup of baking soda with ⅓ cup of vinegar, pour the mixture down the drain, and let the fizzing concoction work its magic! Flush with hot water.
5. Toilet Overflowing: Uh oh. First, stop the flow of water by closing the main shutoff valve (usually at the lower left of the base). If that doesn’t work, make sure the flapper is closed in the tank. Finally, grab a plunger and clear the clog.
6. Choking: Be sure to encourage the choker to continue coughing. If she can’t breathe or speak, call 911. Then, lean her forward and deliver five back blows with the heel of your hand, and five quick abdominal thrusts. Repeat the two steps until the object is forced out and the person is breathing normally.
7. Gas Leak: Gas leaks and explosions cause many house fires. Contact your local gas company to understand how to shut off the gas if you ever smell gas or hear a hissing noise. Open a window and have everyone evacuate the home quickly.
For some fun safety-related facts, check out the infographic below!
