Preparing Your Home for Warmer Weather
Despite some intense winter weather in the Northeast, we have recently come into a welcome period of early spring weather. Indeed, the sun is shining, and it is no longer snowing. Because spring is just around the corner, now is a good time to think about important safety issues in your home. According to an informational sheet from the National Safety Council, springtime often means clearing out the dust of winter and getting ready for warmer months.
First things first: warmer weather often means that it is time for spring cleaning. It is important to make sure that you stay safe as you clean your house. A day of housekeeping can quickly result in a personal injury, such as a slip and fall accident. The National Safety Council recommends some of the following tips as you clean your house:
- Be careful to avoid a back injury while moving or lifting heavy furniture! Be sure to lift with your legs and keep your back straight.
- If you are using liquid-based products to clean your floors, do not make spring cleaning a time for a slip and fall accident. Always use caution while walking on wet surfaces and wipe up any spills that occur during the cleaning process.
- Follow the instructions on your cleaning products. These products often contain hazardous ingredients, so always make sure that you and your family avoid inhaling dangerous chemicals.
- Wear a mask while you dust. You can avoid inhaling dust and harmful mold spores that may have accumulated in your home.
In addition to cleaning and following related safety tips, springtime is as good a time as any to organize your house a bit better and to ensure that you have safety plans in place with your family. For example, you might sit down with your family and discuss what to do in the event of an emergency, such as a home fire. Speaking of fires, spring is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detector and your carbon monoxide alarm. Remember, batteries should be replaced regularly to ensure proper functioning.
In addition to changing batteries, now is also a great time to replace old light bulbs in your home, as well as to get rid of expired medications properly and make sure your first aid kit is up to date with supplies. Taking these steps now can mean less time indoors once the weather warms up for good this summer.
Additional Warm Weather Safety Tips
In addition to the National Safety Council’s tips for spring cleaning and getting your house prepared for springtime, it is also a good idea to remind yourself of other safety tips that could help prevent injuries during warm-weather activities. For example:
- Given that spring months are perfect months for riding bicycles and scooters or taking a walk outside, always remember to always wear a helmet and wear reflective clothing while walking or jogging.
- If you are operating a barbecue, help to prevent burn injuries. Always supervise the barbecue when you are using it, and keep your children a safe distance from the grill. If you use a gas barbecue, check all of the hoses for leaks before you turn on the gas.
- Wear protective clothing and follow the instructions on any equipment you are operating when doing yard work and clearing away winter debris. Did you know that lawnmowers lead to thousands of emergency room visits every year? Before starting up your lawnmower, rake away loose stones and branches that could injure you while you are mowing.
We are all excited for warmer weather. Following some of these safety tips can help with injury prevention during the spring months.
