McALESTER — You do not think twice about fastening your seatbelt or putting on a helmet when heading out for a bike ride. But did you know that home injuries result in the deaths of 55 people daily? Another 58,000 people who are injured due to an accident in their homes need to seek medical care every day.

Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury in the home. Stuff on the floor can make it easy to trip. If stepped on, a pile of newspapers beside the recliner can cause a person to slip just as easily as they would on a wet slip’n’slide. Remove those piles of ‘stuff’ and you’ll reduce the risk of injury.

Overcrowding can be another household hazard. Homeowners should be able to walk through a room without having to go around belongings. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is to have a 32-inch clearance to enter a seating area and an 18-inch clearance between the seating area and coffee table.

Keep an eye out for rugs and cords. Small rugs and cords can be obstacles that lead to a fall. Remove small rugs and be sure to secure large rugs to prevent them from sliding around or bunching up.

An extension cord stretched across a traffic lane is just asking for trouble.  Always use extension cords properly so they don’t become a tripping or fire hazard.

Accidental poisoning is another issue that homeowners face. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says each day 75 people die and 2,000 receive treatment in emergency rooms for accidental poisoning.

Children are naturally curious, so be sure to keep household cleaners, pesticides, medications and vitamins in places where children are not able to access them. Locked upper cabinets are the best bet.

Be mindful of where visitors put their purses or suitcases. Guests may have medication with them, so keep those suitcases and purses out of reach of children.

Don’t ever put chemicals in the same type of containers you would put food.  People could easily eat or drink something they assume is food when in reality it’s a dangerous chemical. Always store household chemicals and pesticides in their original containers. Also, don’t mix household chemicals as this can produce toxic fumes that can be dangerous.

When it comes to fires, most home fires start in the kitchen. Cooking is the primary cause of residential fires. Make certain that all flammables are a minimum of three feet from the range. This includes potholders, paper towels or anything else that could catch fire.

Avoid wearing baggy clothing while cooking. If you lean in to stir a pot or flip that grilled cheese sandwich, loose clothing could accidentally get too close to the flame.

Candles are responsible for many house fires. If you enjoy burning candles in your home, keep an eye on them at all times they are lit. Candles should not be in close proximity to flammable materials. Also keep lit candles out of the reach of children. All matches and lighters must be inaccessible to children. Do not leave the home or fall asleep while candles are lit.

Home fires also can be caused by something as simple as lint buildup in the dryer vent. According to Consumer Reports, about 13,000 house fires start in the laundry room, 4,000 of which start due to lint buildup that occurs when consumers fail to clean out the dryer vent.

The lint trap should be cleaned after every load, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends checking the vent opening regularly to make certain you can feel hot air.  If you can’t feel air moving, the vent or duct is blocked.  Blocked vents and ducts can cause fires. Also, be sure your dryer is vented to the outside, not into the attic.

Choking is another form of accident that can easily happen at home. The Home Safety Council reports that more than 91,000 choking and suffocation injuries resulting in an emergency department visit occur each year in the United States.

Young children are the usual victims of choking on small objects found around the house. The CPSC recommends steering clear of toys smaller in diameter than 1.75 inches for children under the age of 3.

To help you visualize this, picture a toilet paper tube – if an object can fit through it, keep it away from children.

Cords from window treatments also can be harmful to children should they become tangled in them. Consumers can help prevent strangulation by making cords inaccessible. Put loose cords up at the top of the treatment or tie up the cord. Also, don’t place beds or playpens near window coverings.

As the weather warms up many families turn to the pool to cool off. It is imperative to keep a close eye on children anytime they are near water. This includes not only swimming pools, but bathtubs, spas and even buckets of water.

Most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight for less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.  It’s so important to have appropriate barriers in place to prevent children from gaining unauthorized access to water in the first place. Remember, the barrier is only effective when used properly.

Adults also need to take precaution around the water, especially if alcohol is being consumed. According to the Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention, 50 percent of adult drowning accidents involve alcohol.

In most cases, it doesn’t take a lot of money to help ensure your home is a safe environment.  Keeping these tips in mind will help keep your family and guests safe and give you some extra peace of mind.

For more information in Pittsburg County, call 918-423-4120 or log onto www.oces.okstate.edu/pittsburg.

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or status as a veteran and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 LaDell Emmons is the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Educator for the Pittsburg County Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. E-mail her at ladell.emmons@okstate.edu.