From the bizarre to the totally unbelievable household mishaps have been going on for years – with the invention of social media a lot of these occurrences have been documented for the masses to enjoy. We poke fun, laugh and cry at a multitude of online clips, stories and pictures that show day to day accidents that happen inside our own homes. So who’s to blame? Most of the time the incidents occur when somebody misjudges a situation or is under the influence but occasionally accidents just, well, happen.
So how can we avoid them?
We come into contact with various risks on a day to day basis. From the harmful chemicals that we are surrounded by to the potential dodgy wiring in the house just started renting. If you work in certain industry’s you may be more at risk than the average person. In order to avoid something happening it makes sense to try and understand what may cause us harm, what hidden hazards lurk around the corner inside your friendly neighbourhood home, let’s take a look…
Top 5 hidden killers
Trips, slips or falls
Depending on the layout of your home the amount of trip hazards will vary. From table legs to misplaced cables there’s a pretty good chance that you have stubbed a toe or tripped yourself up every once in a while. Some people even manage to fall up the stairs! However, it is not uncommon for people to fall down the stairs causing permanent damage to their spines or even death in some cases.
Dodgy wiring
The problem with some houses is that you are never fully aware of its history, who owned it before you and who carried out maintenance work on the building. People love to cut corners and will do anything to keep down costs even if the safety of your house can sometimes mean life or death. When you move into a new place one of the last things on your mind would be the wiring – it’s not like you can see it – you just flick a switch and you have power, simples. There’s a hidden threat lurking in those walls and under those floorboards though, with the potential to cause catastrophic damage….
Hazardous chemicals
You should always keep hazardous chemicals inside a locked cupboard. Never transfer the liquids or powders into other containers as others could find them and not know the contents of the containers. Air fresheners can mess with your ability to smell things like gas leaks, ammonia is volatile and can cause damage to your skin eyes and lungs. Your seemingly harmless washing detergents are highly concentrated and can poison a small child. The list goes on – keep an eye on your chemicals as they pose a very high risk to you and your family.
Heat sources
One of the biggest dangers inside your home will be anything that gives off heat. The fire, the oven and even the microwave. House fires can be caused purely by accident or complete complacency. You stagger in from that late night party and fancy a quick snack before falling asleep, the misplaced ash from one last cigarette – coming home intoxicated and attempting to cook is one of the largest causes of house fires. By keeping kitchen towels and paper towels away from heat sources you will minimise the risk of fire and go some way to preventing needless accidents.
Mold and damp
Damp and mould can cause a whole range of health issues. They can cause respiratory problems and if you are sensitive to molds they can cause throat irritation and issues with the eyes and nose. Mold can also cause coughing and wheezing. If you are anyone in your home suffers from asthma this could cause you some real problems. If you have black toxic mold in your house you will probably suffer from Toxicity symptoms. Black toxic mold symptoms include mental impairment, problems with your eyes, depression and confusion. It can also damage your internal organs. The worst part of all this is that there is no real treatment for toxic mold symptoms.
Are you aware of all the risks inside your home? Here we have only listed a few but if you want to keep you and your family and friends safe it’s better to be aware of all the risks and hazards. Doing things such as cleaning up after yourself or tidying as you go will minimize these risks. Keep your eyes open and always assess for any dangers that may arise. Have a plan in place should anything life threatening occur so you are as prepared as you possibly can be.
