“The day is near at hand when the doctor will no longer be engaged to patch up the sick man,
but to prevent him from getting sick. He will VISIT FAMILIES, EXAMINE THE PREMISES,
inspect factories and shops and give instruction to his patients how to keep from getting
sick…….”- 1908 article.
Safety in our homes is an extremely important issue since preventable injuries and deaths
continue to rise in homes and communities. To make a significant impact, we need to be aware
of the hazards around us and change our behaviour. One little change at a time could lead to
great results.
Especially at this time when many people work from home we need to be aware of the dangers
and take the necessary steps to preserve lives and also avoid injuries.
It is frightening to learn that in some countries, up to 70% of all unintentional-injury deaths
occur in the home or community. In plain language you are more likely to be injured at home
than anywhere else. Each year thousands of people are off work for more than a week as a result
of a fall at home, and this has a big effect on businesses and organizations.
The leading causes of unintentional-injury in the home and community include:
1. Poisoning
2. Falls
3. Choking
4. Drowning
5. Fires/flames
WATCH THESE AREAS
Kitchen and cooking areas
o A no go area for children. Everyone working in an accident and emergency
department of a hospital will tell you that on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons
when most people do their weekly cooking, many children suffer from severe
burns.
o Appropriate way of using the burners on a stove. Avoid handles of cooking pots
facing your work area. The gas cylinder should be in a very well ventilated area
preferably outdoors
o Care of spills. Clean them as soon as they occur to avoid slips.
Electrical Appliances
o All appliances switched off after use and plug removed from socket
o Avoid touching of an electrical appliance with wet hands
o Electrical cords should be out of the way to avoid tripping people.
o Avoid using appliances such as phones etc. while they are plugged in the mains
and still charging
o Repair all faulty electricals immediately; a professional needs to do this.
Bathroom
o Children should never be left alone in a bathroom
o The use of mats in a bath especially for children and the elderly
o The elderly (above 65years, but could be younger depending on the health status)
should use showers with support bars and stools instead of bath tubs.
Other areas
o Avoid making a mess since they can cause one to trip sometimes with grave
consequences. Children should be taught to pick up their toys after use.
o Adults should avoid drinking from bottles since children copy this habit and may
harm themselves in the process. In our setting many children tend to drink
kerosene stored in soft drink bottles. We then worsen the condition by forcing
them to drink palm oil and inducing vomiting. Who really “instituted” this
criminal sentence?
o All medications, chemicals, small substances etc should be kept out of the reach
of children
OTHER GENERAL STEPS TO AVOIDING HAZARDS
1. Look around for anything that may cause an accident. Make use of the different senses,
sight, smell, hearing, touch. May not be a smart idea to try taste.
2. Decide who is most at risk. This helps you to make appropriate changes
3. Take preventive measures. After reading this piece make the changes necessary. Do not
wait to “learn from experience” it may not always be wise to learn from the best teacher.
4. Keep a record of what you have changed
5. Continually check your living space – please do not think that making a onetime attempt
is all that you need. Do this every day or every week.
COMMON CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS IN THE HOME
1. Poorly organized and cluttered walkway
2. Inadequate or unsuitable lighting
3. Moving or handling a load incorrectly – remember that waist or back pain?
4. Rushing around with careless abandon. Most of the time we end up losing time.
5. Tiredness. We commit errors when tired. Do not try to cheat nature, get some rest.
6. Lack of balance or appropriate mobility
7. Poor eyesight and/or inappropriate corrective lenses
8. Medication that may lead to dizziness. The elderly for instance who are on several
medication have an increased risk of falling.
ECONOMIC COSTS OF ACCIDENTS AT HOME
The cost of home accidents is high in terms of the number of lives lost and resulting permanent
disabilities. Several working days are lost, which translates into lost productivity. Huge sums of
money may be lost seeking medical care and the quality of life is also poor.
The benefits of prevention of injuries at home are clear and quantifiable in terms of health and
economic costs:
Potential to save lives
Improved quality of life
Reduction in cost of hospital care
Improved productivity through people’s contribution to the economy.
With all these benefits that we can chalk from keeping our home safe, one wonders why very
little is heard about bringing safety home. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a nationwide
drive.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND
REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood
pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ St Andrews Clinic
Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness
nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week – Let us all pledge to “reduce the number of accidental deaths and injuries
in our homes.” A home should be a place where we are absolutely SAFE.
References:
1. www.nsc.org (national safety council)
2. www.homesafety.co.nz
3. www.injuryobservatory.net
4. www.webmd.com
