Every homeowner wants a healthy and safe home. Here are a few tips and essential items that will help you maintain safety and security in your household.

Install Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors save lives by providing an early warning in case of fire so that your family members have extra time to escape the home. Install smoke detectors inside every bedroom, common hallways, the kitchen, and the laundry room, and on each level of your home. Test the detectors monthly and replace the batteries twice every year.

Secure Your Patio Door

The patio door is a common entryway for burglars. Keep the door locked anytime it is not in use. If it’s a sliding door, place a metal or wooden rod in the tracks to help defend against break-ins. An alarm that sounds when the glass is broken is also a helpful tool to keep your home safe.

Keep Your Home Healthy and Safe with a First Aid Kit

A first-aid kit contains supplies to handle basic cuts and bruises. Keep a well-stocked kit in an easy-to-access area of the home. All family members should know where it’s located. If you or a family member experiences a major accident, the supplies in your first-aid kit can help you manage the situation until help arrives.

Create a Fire Escape Plan

Work with your family members to develop an escape plan in case of a house fire. When children help design the plan, they are more likely to remember it. Plan two exits from each room and designate a safe meeting place away from the home. Teach children to cover their faces with fabric and crawl on the ground to escape through thick smoke.

Test for Radon Gas

Radon is a colorless and odorless carcinogenic gas. It’s impossible to detect it in your home without a test. Because radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, it’s important to know that your home is safe. Hire a professional to perform a test. If radon gas is detected, hire a professional company to install a radon mitigation system.

Close Blinds and Curtains to Keep Your Home Healthy and Safe

Especially at night, keep blinds and curtains closed. An interested burglar has a better view of your property when the interior of your home is well-lit and can be seen clearly through uncovered windows. Open curtains also enable a burglar to map out the inside of your home and better plan for a break-in.

Maryland Home Inspectors provides home inspection services, including radon testing, to customers in the Washington DC and Baltimore areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment.