Smoke Alarms - Time to check the smoke alarms. Three out of five home fire deaths are a result of fires in homes with no smoke alarms (National Fire Protection Association, 2019). It is important to test your smoke alarms every month and replace the battery at least once a year. If the alarm makes a chirping sound, replace the battery immediately. Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom and in the common areas on each floor of your home. Make sure to mount them at least 10 feet from the stove to reduce false alarms.
Carbon monoxide detectors - Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that can be deadly. Just like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed throughout your home. Springtime can be the perfect yearly deep cleaning reminder to check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detectors.
Lawn Safety - Lawn mowers and gardening tools can be dangerous. Children should not be allowed to play near mowers and should be supervised while gardening tools are out. Objects can be hidden in the grass and can potentially be thrown as projectiles, potentially causing serious injury. Moving blades can result in serious cuts and even amputations.
Bike Safety - Now that the snow if finally melting, kids and adults are pulling the bikes out of the garage. To avoid injuries associated with bike accidents it is important to wear a helmet. Broken arms, lacerations and head injuries are some of the most commonly associated injuries related to bike accidents. In addition to wearing a helmet, hand and knee guards can also be worn to avoid injury.
Allergy Awareness - Spring is in the air and with that comes allergies. Allergies can cause a runny nose, itchy and water eyes. Avoid and reduce your risk of allergies by doing the following: If you have been working outside, change clothes when you come inside and shower to remove pollen from your body and hair. If you have tried to avoid allergies and are still having a lot of symptoms you can always contact your health care provider for further assistance.
Chemicals - Spring is the time that people tend to start throwing things out and polishing their home. Make sure to check warning labels on all cleaning chemicals before use. Always keep chemicals and pesticides out of reach of children and locked with secure lids. Never store chemicals in anything that was once used for food or drink. Michigan Poison Control Number is 1.800.222.1222.
