Our Toronto foot clinic is always there to help. It doesn’t matter what age you are. It’s important to keep in mind that slips and falls are the leading cause of accidents in the home. Of course there are some safety precautions that will give you support like an ankle foot orthosis product.
However, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a list of ways to prevent any home-based accidents as well.
Have Flashlights Handy
It’s always a good idea to have emergency lights at the ready. However, these come in especially handy on those dark nights where even the most familiar surfaces can become an issue. It’s also a good practice to keep a flashlight beside your bed in case of a power outage.
Check the batteries occasionally to make sure you’ll have power when you need it. Another good idea is to have a small flashlight on your key ring.
Place Night Lights Around The House
If you keep in mind that 20% of accidents in the home happen at night, you’ll see why night lights are important. You can buy LED powered night lights from your local home improvement store. The best are equipped with motion sensors so they light up automatically when you go down to the kitchen for a late night snack.
Fix Those Slippery Surfaces
Of course everyone who lives in a country like Canada understands how slippery things can get in the winter. Adhesives strip grips and gritty additives for paints are two solutions. If you’re looking for something a little more permanent, screw-on aluminium plates are an excellent safety feature for walkways when the thermometer dips.
Our Toronto Foot Clinic Says Declutter
Steps and stairwells are the places where nearly half of all falling deaths occur in the home. One cardinal rule is to make sure that you don’t leave anything on the steps with the intention of taking it downstairs later on. We’ve all done it, but it can be a very dangerous situation.
Put Soap Dispensers Up On the Wall
The most common age bracket for injuries in the washroom is 15 to 24 year olds. Young people reaching for dropped soap accounts for most of these accidents. Installing proper bath mats and putting soap dispensers on the walls in the shower are two ways to prevent these issues.
Chris Hastings’ Toronto foot clinic Podiatry on Yonge @ King is your source for comprehensive Toronto foot care.
