HomeSafety Surprises And Suggestions by Elinor Ginzler (NAPSA)—Any time of year can be the right time to take a look around your home and find ways to makeit safer for you and your family. For example, simple home maintenance can avert a number of potential problems. Cleaning lint filters in the clothes dryer before every load and cleaning the dryer vent line each year can prevent dryer fires. Shockingly, there are more than 15,000 dryer-related Ginzler fires each year. Placing a barbecue grill too close to the house can be another way to cook upaccidents. It’s estimated that 6,500 barbecue grill fires cause as much as $27 million in property losses each year. Some injuries can be prevented by just choosing a different tool for a difficult task. Consider using a can opener instead of a kitchen knife the next time you open those frustrating anti-theft plastic clamshell packages. And did you know that a sharp knife is safer than a dull knife? A dull blade leadsto slips. AARPhas compiled a list of 30 homesafety facts and tips that shine a light on the simple things that can help make homes safer and moreuserfriendly. Did you know that: * 86,000 people fall each year because of their pets? Power-mowerinjuries cause 80,000 hospital visits each year? Poison ivy is getting more potent and harderto identify? * More people are injured using hand tools than powertools? Manyof these injuries can be prevented with simple fixes that take just moments but rarely makeit to our to-do lists. Consider these small tasks: * Moving thegrill 10 feet from the house or shrubs can help protect you from largerfire if the grill tips or the fire flares. Feeding the cat before making dinner can stop it from milling around the kitchen when you’re cooking. A baby gate can keep the dog out of the kitchen altogether. Most mower injuries are caused by stones or other things kicked out by mower blades moving at high speed. Clearing the yard of debris before mowingcan help. * Can’t recognize poison ivy? The oil that causes people to react to poison ivy won’t penetrate long sleeves and pants or vinyl work gloves. By drawing attention to homesafety risks that are easy to overlook but not too hard to prevent, AARP hopes everyone can relax, knowing they will have a safer homeall year round. Learn moreat http://www.aarp. org//home-garden/housing/ 30_safety_tips.html or call 888OUR-AARP(888-687-2277). Elinor Ginzler is AARP’s senior vice president for Livable Communities.
