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Home related injuries is one of the last things most people think about in there home. However home related injuries accounted for more than 20,000 deaths in the U.S. last year, with almost 21 million in medical visits every year. The top three culprits of home related injuries include: #1 Falls, #2 Poisonings, and #3 Fires and Burns.

So now you know what the leading injuries in the home are so you should be able to avoid them right? Well maybe not according to a recent HSC survey it showed that while 92 percent of homeowners think about home safety. Only one third actually of homeowners were able to name a precaution they had actually taken in their home.

It’s something to think about sure and definitely something to act on. Here are a few simple home updates to help protect yourself and your loved ones from the top home dangers.

Falls

When you have lived to be 75 years old you will have spent an average of 1.5 years in the bathroom. That is why it is imperative that this highly used room be as safe as possible. One easy an effective solution is to avoid falls would be to install grab bars. Products such as Moen® Home Care® Grab Bars with Integrated Accessories combine the safety benefits of a grab bar with three common bath essentials – a towel bar, a toilet paper holder and a shelf – making each bath functional and fashionable. And, to motivate you to install these products – not just think about it – each Grab Bar includes Moen Home Care’s patented SecureMount™ Anchors to quickly, easily and securely install the grab bars in just minutes.

Last but not least add a light sensor or nightlight in your bathrooms, and halls outside the bathroom. It will provide a well lit path for nighttime visits to the restroom.

Poisoning

The second leading cause of unintentional home injuries in the US is accidental poisoning. Reports from the Poison Control Centers state that there is more than two million accidental poisonings each year. Preventing these poisonings can be simple. First keep all cleaners, chemicals, and medications in their original containers so as not to be mistaken for another product.

You have read and hear this many times “Keep out of the reach of children”. Knowing that is not always a simple task especially with children under the age of five. First make sure all poisonous items and medications are locked and out of your childrens reach. Add child proof locks on your cabinets, and you can also purchase medicine cabinets with a built in lock for added safety.

Burns

Over 93 percent of adults reported having smoke alarms in their homes, however some burns occur without any smoke. More than 100,000 emergency room visits a year occur from hot tap water scald burns. Preventing tap burns is pretty simple, turn down your hot water heater to below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. And finally look around for other potential fire hazards such as space heaters, candles, irons, curling irons, and do your best to not leave them unattended. There are products on the market now like battery-powered “flameless” candles, a good habit to start is unplugging items when your done such as your curling iron.

So in no time flat you could have your home better equipped to fend of the top three home safety hazards.

For more information about Moen Home Care Grab Bars or other bath safety products, visit www.moen.com/homecare.