We want and expect our homes to be safe havens for us from the dangers of the outside world. But, no matter how cozy and inviting our homes appear to be, they can still contain hazards that can put our health and well-being in jeopardy. Before you put your feet up and relax tonight, have a look around and see if any of these hidden dangers are lurking in your home.
1. Dangerous mold spores. Toxic black mold is probably the most feared and destructive, but even molds generally considered harmless can release spores into the air that are dangerous for those with allergies and asthma. Some of the symtoms of a toxic mold problem in the home include:
? Headaches
? Red, watery eyes
? Itchy, irritated throat.
? Constant coughing with phlegm
These symptoms are quite similar to those of the common cold and mild cases of the flu, so it can take quite a while for a homeowner to suspect something is amiss. It’s a good idea to conduct frequent inspections of your home, including the basement, duct-work and behind appliances, counters and other hidden places to look for mold growth. The earlier you can catch the problem, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to get it under control before it spreads so much that you’ll need to call in outside mold remediation specialists.
2. Unsafe drinking water. In most areas, your local government is responsible for ensuring the safety of the local water supply. However, this doesn’t extend to what happens with the water after it reaches the pipes in your home. Many older homes have lead in the interior water pipes and or the pipes that connect the house to the main water supply. As these pipes corrode, they can leach lead and other harmful substances into your home’s water supply.
You can have test your home’s water supply with simple water testing kits. Using a water filtration system can also help ensure that the water that you drink and bathe in is as clean and pure as possible. Installing a shower filter can also help those with sensitive skin who find the chlorine and other additives in tap water irritates their skin and scalp.
3. Tripping and falling hazards. It’s amazing how long we can put off fixing annoyances like that one loose floor board or that rug that always bunches up. After all, nobody has been seriously hurt…yet. The best time to rid your home of tripping and falling hazards is now. Take the next weekend and take care of all those little jobs that you’ve been putting off such as loose or missing handrails, rugs and carpets that aren’t securely tapped down, loose floorboards and uneven steps.
Make it a habit to keep your floors and stairs clear of debris. Shoes, toys and other objects should be put away instead of left where they are dropped. At night, make sure that you have plenty of nightlights to guide the way and keep flashlights by the bed in case of power outages.
4. No warning signs. Every house needs working fire and carbon monoxide alarms. These can give your family the warning that they need to get out of the house in plenty of time to avoid serious injury or death. Your local fire station can work with you to ensure that you have enough alarms for the size and shape of your home and that each alarm is properly placed. Make it a habit to change the batteries in your alarms often. Many people suggest doing it every time daylight savings time goes into and out of effect as well as whenever you have reason to believe the batteries are running low.
Make sure that every member of your family knows what to do and where to go if the alarms go off. Small children should be instructed not to hide if the alarm scares them and to instead call for help until somebody comes for them. Be sure that every room of your house has two escape paths and that any member of the family can easily unlock all doors from the inside to make their escape.
5. Poor air quality. Pollutants, dust and more all make their way into our homes. For some people, this is just an annoyance that means extra dusting and cleaning. For others with allergies, asthma and other health problems it can put them at risk for serious illness. Keeping the home as clean as possible is the first and best step towards improving air quality. Little things like removing shoes at the door, keeping windows shut and pulling up carpets can help keep the air cleaner and free of irritants. Using HEPA filters in vacuums and the home’s heating and cooling systems can also cut down on pollutants.
Home air purifiers can help remove even more pollutants from the air including cigarette smoke, mold spores and dust mite droppings. These can be especially useful in apartment or townhouses where smoke and other harmful irritants can drift in from neighboring residences.
While there is no way to eliminate all risk, most of us could be doing more to ensure that our homes are as safe as possible. Don’t be complacent, assess your home for hazards regularly and take action immediately to ensure the safety, health and well-being of yourself and your loved ones.
About the Author:
After graduating with a Ph.D. in Medicine, Bobby Schwartz went on to specialize in allergy and immunology as well as diagnostic laboratory immunology through a fellowship. He is a member of a number of distinguished national professional associations and medical societies, and has written about allergies extensively for daily newspapers as well as monthly magazines.
Schwartz enjoys hiking with his wife Martha, and currently has two little girls. While no publishing details have been put forth, Schwartz has confirmed he is working on his first book about pet allergies.