Make your home a safer place

We tune up our cars, our furnaces, our lawn mowers. Maybe it’s time we tuned up the safety conditions of our homes.

A winter weekend when you’re stuck inside is a great time to take stock of your surroundings and address shortcomings such as aging smoke alarms, inadequate stair rails and accessible poisons.

With help from Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council in Washington, we put together a list of the most important safety checks and upgrades that could be accomplished in a weekend. Even if you take on just one, you’re making your home that much safer for the people you love.

“Make a fire escape plan, and then practice it.

When fire breaks out, you have very little time to escape, Appy said. You don’t want to waste precious seconds making decisions.

Your plan should include two paths of escape from every room. Make sure you can get out quickly and safely, and if necessary, invest in repairs or equipment that will allow you to do so. For example, fix windows so they open easily, move objects blocking the way, purchase window-escape ladders or install quick-release latches for security bars.

Because younger children often sleep through smoke alarms, decide who will wake children for fire drills and emergencies.

Choose a spot outdoors, safely away from the house, for everyone to meet.

“Make sure your smoke alarms are working properly. Change the batteries, if necessary, and test each alarm. Firefighters often recommend an aerosol product commonly called canned smoke because it ensures the unit’s sensor is working. Pushing the “test” button shows only that the wiring is functioning properly.

If your alarms are at least 10 years old, replace them. Over time, normal wear can affect an alarm’s sensitivity, Appy said. She recommended replacing old units with alarms that are interconnected, so all the alarms in the house sound when one of them senses smoke. They’re available in hard-wired types, which need to be installed by an electrician, and battery-operated versions that use wireless technology and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.

“Home fires related to heating equipment peak in December, January and February, Appy said, so it’s an opportune time to make sure your equipment is operating safely and properly. Space heaters can be especially dangerous. Make sure they’re at least 3 feet from anything flammable.

“If you have a fireplace, make an appointment to have the chimney inspected and cleaned if you haven’t in a while. An inspection could turn up cracks in the chimney lining that aren’t easily visible but that could allow a fire to escape the chimney and spread inside your walls. Cleaning removes creosote, a highly flammable substance that builds up in chimneys when wood is burned.

“Install grab bars in bathrooms. They reduce the risk of falls for everyone in the family, not just elderly people.

The good news: Some types are fairly simple to install, and “they’re not ugly anymore,” Appy said. Moen Inc., for example, recently unveiled a SecureMount line of grab bars in a variety of stylish designs and finishes. The bars use an anchor system that doesn’t have to be installed on studs and can go on surfaces including drywall, tile and marble.

“Improve your stairwells. Check the lighting at the tops and bottoms of stairs, and make sure you’re using light bulbs with the highest wattage that’s safe for the fixtures. Compact fluorescent bulbs use fewer watts than conventional bulbs to produce the same amount of light, so you can get more light for the wattage by using them.

Move things off the stairs that shouldn’t be there. If you’re prone to leaving things on the steps, place a basket in a convenient yet safe place near the stairway, where you can put the things you want to take up or down with you. Just make sure the basket can be carried in one hand, Appy said.

If possible, install a second handrail on the opposite side of the stairway. When you trip or stumble, you’re likely to reach out with your dominant hand, Appy said. Having two rails ensures there’s always something to grab, whether you’re going up the stairs or down.

The rail should be rounded and small enough in diameter so you can easily wrap your fingers around it, and it should extend a little way beyond the top and bottom of the stairs.

If your household has little ones or frequent young visitors, install sturdy baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

“Get rid of slippery area rugs, or anchor them with double-sided tape along all four edges. You want the rug to be secured well enough that no one will catch a toe and trip.

“Guard against carbon monoxide poisoning by installing one or more CO detectors, particularly near sleeping areas. Commit to changing the batteries regularly and testing the detector monthly, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace it after seven to 10 years.

“Do a walk-through of your house and garage to look for poisons that could pose a danger to children or pets. Read the labels on cleaning products, automotive fluids and even cosmetics and hair-care products, looking for words such as “caution,” “warning,” “danger” or “poison.” Anything with those words should be secured behind a child-resistant lock. While you’re at it, lock away the matches and lighters, too.

Just putting those items out of reach isn’t sufficient, Appy said. “Children have been known to be very tenacious about getting things they want.”

“Post the national poison control number, 800-222-1222, on every phone. Dialing it will route you to the nearest center, where you can get information on what to do in case of a poisoning or just ask questions.

“Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of the hottest water coming out of the tap. If it’s higher than 120 degrees, lower the temperature setting .