House Keeping

Many harmful germs can survive for several hours on kitchensurfaces.  Reduce your risk of illness by keeping cutting boards,counter tops, utensils, dishcloths, and towels clean.  Don’t use sponges inthe kitchen.  They tend to collect small food particles and are difficultto clean.

Use a weak chlorine bleach solution (2 teaspoons of bleach per quartof water) as a kitchen sanitizer.  You may want to keep a supply of thissolution in a spray bottle near the sink.

Tipson Housekeeping

• Clean and disinfect bathroom toilet bowls and seat, sinks, countersand tubs at least weekly.

• Disinfect cutting boards.  Clean cutting boards in hot, soapywater using a scrub brush to remove food particles and germs that are lodged inthe tiny crevices and cuts.  Then spray the boards with a weak chlorinebleach solution, rinse, and allow them to air dry.

• Keep sink disposals and dishwashers free of food debris.  Keepcounters and table tops clean.  Clean counters and tabletops after theyare used for food preparation.  A weak bleach solution can be used tosanitize these surfaces.

• Start each cooking session with a clean dishcloth and towel. Damp sponges and dishcloths can harbor millions of germs.  Avoid usingsponges in the kitchen and launder dishcloths and towels frequently. 

• Remove trash/rubbish each day to discourage insects and other pestsfrom entering your home.

• Use disposable paper towels to wipe up juices from raw meat,poultry, or fish.

• Wipe up spills in the refrigerator immediately.

Slips, Trips And Falls

Falls are themajor cause of household injuries. Most falls happen when someone slips on icy,wet, or slick surfaces; trips over a loose rug, toy, or other object; orstumbles on stairs.

Tips to reduce the risk of falls

• Use rubber-backed rugs on hard floors.

• Avoid very thick carpets and rugs with busy patterns, especially on stairs.

• Replace loose, torn, or frayed rugs.

• Replace wooden stairs and floors that are broken, warped, or rotted.

• Install non-skid strips or mats and grab bars in the bathtub or shower.

• Keep stairs and walkways clear of cords and clutter.

• Be sure outdoors and indoors stairs and hallways are well lighted.

• Install handrails on both sides of all staircases.

• Before climbing a ladder, be sure it is in good shape and is stable. Neverstand on the top two rungs of a ladder. Have a friend nearby in case you fall.

• Repair broken or uneven concrete in walks and steps.

• Keep sidewalks and steps clear of snow and ice in winter.

• Spread sand or salt on icy spots.

Tips to protect young children from falls

• Don’t let children jump on beds or other furniture.

• Install rails on their beds to keep them from falling.

• Don’t use infant walkers. These cause many serious injuries each year,especially on stairs.

• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of all stairs if you have atoddler.

• Install guards on upper floor windows.

• Adjust electric garage doors so they reverse easily when they hitsomething.

• Make sure everyone in your family wears a helmet when riding a bike.

Suffocation, Strangling And Choking

Each yearhundreds of people die after choking on food or other small items. Most deathsinvolve infants, toddlers, and the elderly.

Tips to prevent choking and suffocation

• Learn how to use the Heimlich maneuver to remove something stuck in aperson’s throat.

• Keep small objects away from toddlers. Anything that is small enough topass through a toilet paper tube is a choking hazard.

• Place infants on their backs to sleep. Use a firm crib mattress and avoidsoft bedding.Remove drawstrings from children’s clothing.

• Don’t serve foods that are hard to chew. Toddlers and some older peoplehave trouble chewing and swallowing foods. Cut fruits and vegetables, hot dogs,and other hard foods into bite-sized pieces.

• Remove doors before throwing out old appliances.

• Keep plastic bags away from children. A thin plastic bag can suffocate achild.

• Keep empty balloons and balloon pieces away from small children.

Water Safety

• Drowning is thesixth leading cause of accidental death.  From 1999 to 2003, 338 Wisconsinresidents died as a result of drowning.  Many of these deaths could havebeen prevented. 

Tips on water safety

• Learn CPR.  This easy-to-learn technique can save the life of someonewho has stopped breathing.

• Never place electrical radios, hairdryers, or fans near a sink, bathtub orpool.

Tips to protect young children from water hazards

• Never leave a child alone near water. Children love to play in water andcan drown in a matter of seconds. Keep the toilet lids down and bathroom doorsclosed. Empty bathtubs and buckets right after use. If outdoors, store pailsupside down so they won’t collect rain or snowmelt.

• Teach children to swim and talk to them about water safety.

• Surround pools and hot tubs with a 5-foot fence and install childproof,self-latching gate.

Firearm Safety

• Every two hoursa child is killed by a gun. Guns attract children, but they can kill instantly.Children and teens do not fully understand how dangerous guns can be.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Wisconsin’s teens. Manysuicides are committed with handguns.

Gun owners havea responsibility to be sure their guns and ammunition are stored safely.Tips for gun owners:

• Always keep guns unloaded and locked up.

• Store guns and ammunition in separate locked cabinets.

• Keep the keys for gun cabinets hidden or with you at all times.

• Take a gun safety course.

• Talk to your children about gun safety.

• Remove ammunition from guns before storing them.

• Make sure each gun is fitted with a trigger lock.  

Tips On Smoke And Carbon Monoxide

HealthProblems

Thequality of the air in your home can affect your family’s comfort and health.The temperature and humidity should be controlled. Air should be clean and freeof harmful chemicals and smoke. Poor air quality can cause a stuffy nose, sorethroat, burning eyes, headache, and sleepiness. People who have asthma,allergies or lung disease are affected more than others.

Carbonmonoxide from faulty home heating systems cause about 200 deaths a year in theUnited States.  Carbon monoxide can also come from using portablegenerators inappropriately.  If you can not vent the exhaust from yourportable generator safely, do not use it!

Tipson smoke and carbon monoxide:

• Bantobacco smoke from your home.

• Installa carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms.

• Inspectyour gas appliances and chimney every year. Replace furnace filters every monthor two during periods of use. Make sure your gas dryer, furnace and waterheater are vented to the outdoors.

• Keepfireplaces and wood stoves well vented to the outdoors. 

• Burnonly clean, untreated wood.

• Neverlet a car or any gas engine idle in a garage or carport.

• Neveruse a charcoal grill indoors or in a closed area like a garage.

Tips On Mold And Mildew

Moldand Mildew

Moldsand mildew grow in damp, dark places. Molds and mildew can cause lung problems– especially in people who have allergies or asthma. You can prevent the growthof molds and mildew in your home by controlling humidity.

 

Tipson mold and mildew:

• Control moisture. Use a dehumidifier during thesummer. Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom. Vent the clothes dryerto the outdoors and make sure the vent pipe is not clogged.

• Fix plumbing leaks before mold grows.

• Don’t store firewood inside. Bark containsmillions of mold spores.

• More on molds and mildew.