HOME SAFETY CHECKLIST
Each year, many older Americans are injured in and around their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, over 622,000 people over age 65 were treated in hospital
emergency rooms for injuries associated with products they live with and use everyday.
ALL AREAS OF THE HOME
In all areas of your home, you should check all electrical and telephone cords; rugs, runners and mats;
telephone areas; smoke detectors; electrical outlets and switches; light bulbs; space heaters; wood burning
stoves; and your emergency exit plan.
CORDS
YES ___ NO___1. Are lamp, extension, and telephone cords placed out of the flow of traffic?
YES ___ NO___2. Are cords out from beneath furniture and rugs or carpeting? (For safety, correct answer is
no.)
YES ___ NO___3. Are cords attached to the walls, baseboards, etc., with nails or staples?
YES ___ NO___4. Are electrical cords in good condition, not frayed or cracked?
YES ___ NO___5. Do extension cords carry no more than their proper load, as indicated by the ratings labeled
on the cord and the appliance?
RUGS, RUNNERS AND MATS
YES ___ NO___1. Are all small rugs and runners slip-resistant?
YES ___ NO___2. Are emergency numbers posted on or near the telephone?
YES ___ NO___3. Do you have access to a telephone if you fall (or experience some other emergency which
prevents you from standing and reaching a wall phone)?
SMOKE DETECTORS
YES ___ NO___1. Are smoke detectors properly located?
YES ___ NO___2. Do you have properly working smoke detectors?
ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND SWITCHES
YES ___ NO___1. Are any outlets and switches unusually warm or hot to the touch? (For safety, correct
answer is no.)
YES ___ NO___2. Do all outlets and switches have cover plates, so that no wiring is exposed?
YES ___ NO___3. Are light bulbs the appropriate size and type for the lamp or fixture?
SPACE HEATERS
YES ___ NO___1. Are heaters which come with a 3-prong plug being used in a 3-hole outlet or with a properly
attached adapter?
YES ___ NO___2. Are small stoves and heaters placed where they cannot be knocked over, and away from
furnishings and flammable materials, such as curtains or rugs?
YES ___ NO___3. If your home has space heating equipment, such as a kerosene heater, a gas heater or an
LP gas heater, do you understand the installation and operating instructions thoroughly?
WOODBURNING HEATING EQUIPMENT
YES ___ NO___ 1. Is wood burning equipment installed properly?
THE EMERGENCY EXIT PLAN
YES ___ NO___1. Do you have an emergency exit plan and an alternate emergency exit plan in case of a fire?
YOUR KITCHEN
In the kitchen, check the range area, all electrical cords, lighting, all throw rugs and mats, and the telephone
area.
THE RANGE AREA
YES ___ NO___1. Are towels, curtains, and other things that might catch fire located away from the range?
YES ___ NO___2. Do you wear clothing with short or close-fitting sleeves while you are cooking?
YES ___ NO___3. Are kitchen ventilation systems or range exhausts functioning properly and are they in use
while you are cooking?
YES ___ NO___4. Are all extension cords and appliance cords located away from the sink or range areas?
YES ___ NO___5. Does good, even lighting exist over the stove, sink, and countertop work areas, especially
where food is sliced or cut?
YES ___ NO___6. Do you have a step stool which is stable and in good repair?
LIVING ROOM/FAMILY ROOM
In the living room/family room, check all rugs and runners, electrical and telephone cords, lighting, the
fireplace and chimney, the telephone area, and all passageways.
YES ___ NO___1. Are chimneys clear from accumulations of leaves, and other debris that can clog them?
YES ___ NO___2. Has the chimney been cleaned within the past year?
TELEPHONE AREA
YES ___ NO___1. Are hallways, passageways between rooms, and other heavy traffic areas well lit?
YES ___ NO___2. Are exits and passageways kept clear?
BATHROOMS
In the bathroom, check bathtub and shower areas, water temperature, rugs and mats, lighting, small
electrical appliances, and storage areas for medications.
BATHTUB AND SHOWER AREAS
YES ___ NO___1. Are bathtubs and showers equipped with non-skid mats, abrasive strips, or surfaces that
are not slippery?
YES ___ NO___2. Do bathtubs and showers have at least one (preferably two) grab bars?
YES ___ NO___3. Is the water temperature 120 degrees or lower?
LIGHTING
YES ___ NO___1. Is a light switch located near the entrance to the bathroom?
SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
YES ___ NO___1. Are small electrical appliances such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, etc., unplugged
when not in use?
MEDICATIONS
YES ___ NO___1. Are all medicines stored in the containers that they came in, and are they clearly marked?
BEDROOMS
In the bedroom, check all rugs and runners, electrical and telephone cords, and areas around beds.
AREAS AROUND BEDS
YES ___ NO___1. Are lamps or light switches within reach of each bed?
YES ___ NO___2. Are ash trays, smoking materials, or other fire sources (heaters, hot plates, teapots, etc.)
located away from beds or bedding?
YES ___ NO___3. Is anything covering your electric blanket when in use? (For safety, correct answer is no.)
YES ___ NO___4. Do you avoid “tucking in” the sides or ends of your electric blanket?
YES ___ NO___5. Do you ever go to sleep with a heating pad which is turned on? (For safety, correct answer
is no.)
YES ___ NO___6. Is there a telephone close to your bed?
BASEMENT/GARAGE/WORKSHOP/STORAGE AREAS
In the basement, garage, workshop, and storage areas, check lighting, fuse boxes or circuit breakers,
appliances and power tools, electrical cords, and flammable liquids.
LIGHTING
YES ___ NO___1. Are work areas, especially areas where power tools are used, well lit?
YES ___ NO___2. Can you turn on the lights without first having to walk through a dark area?
FUSE BOX OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS
YES ___ NO___If fuses are used, are they the correct size for the circuit?
APPLIANCES AND POWER TOOLS
YES ___ NO___1. Are power tools equipped with a 3-prong plug or marked to show that they are double
insulated?
YES ___ NO___2. Do power tools have guards in place?
YES ___ NO___3. Has the grounding feature on any 3-prong plug been defeated by removal of the grounding
pin or by improperly using an adapter? (For safety, correct answer is no.)
FLAMMABLE AND VOLATILE LIQUIDS
YES ___ NO___1. Are containers of volatile liquids tightly capped?
YES ___ NO___2. Are gasoline, paints, solvents, or other products that give off vapors or fumes stored away
from ignition sources?
STAIRS
For all stairways, check lighting, handrails, and the condition of the steps and coverings.
LIGHTING
YES ___ NO___1. Are stairs well lighted?
YES ___ NO___2. Are light switches located at both the top and bottom of the stairs.
YES ___ NO___3. Do the steps allow secure footing?
YES ___ NO___4. Are steps even and of the same size and height?
YES ___ NO___5. Are the coverings on the steps in good condition?
YES ___ NO___6. Can you clearly see the edges of the steps?
YES ___ NO___7. Is anything stored on the stairway, even temporarily? (For safety, correct answer is no.)
REMEMBER TO PERIODICALLY RE-CHECK YOUR HOME.
SOURCE: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Information and Public Affairs. Modified for this publication.
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