Fire Extinguisher This is an easy one to check off the list and great for being able to relax about basic fire hazards, like kitchen fires. The ones above are super stylish, as are the two bottom links below. Want to go further? Here’s a link to How To Buy The Right Fire Extinguisher and here’s a link to our Home Fire Safety Checklist.
First Aid Kit I never had one of these until I had a child, and then it was mostly for endless bandaids, BUT on occasion, I have been very grateful for the deeper offering, particularly around bad knife cuts, infected cuts and bad sprains. Somehow, just bringing out a good first aid kit makes people calmer, and that helps. Most kits don’t come with enough band-aids, so you’ll still need to stock those, and pick carefully that the kit you are getting is practical for you. Basic family kits are good bets.
Smoke & CO Alarm This is the final big part of the safety triangle, and you can buy these separately or together now with NEST. the nice thing about NEST is the ability to remotely monitor your home. They broke ground, but there is competition¦
Contact List for Doctors, Poison Control, Parents, etc. Information is always a part of safety, and one good contact list that’s easily available to you, guests, babysitters, family members is crucial. Don’t just put your outside emergency contacts on it, however, also include your own personal information and health insurance information in case you can’t or aren’t there to provide it.
True Dead Bolt Locks on Outside Doors This is one step removed, but having a good lock on your door is a no-brainer, whether you are at home or away. The only real locks that work are those that physically bolt the door in an interlocking way like the classic dead bolt above. You can go much further, of course,
WiFi Thermostat Another step removed, but important if you want your house to be safe when you’re not there. A WiFi thermostat can not only help you save money on your heating bill by allowing you to turn the heat down easily when you’re not there, it allows you to see if your heat has gone out or electricity has gone out before your pipes freeze.
Non Toxic House Plants Let’s get serious for a moment. Having a sick cat or dog, OR a guest’s sick cat or dog is often just as bad as being sick ourselves. One easy adjustment or area of consciousness raising is around plants that are toxic to pets, then you can check this box easily.
Home Childproofing The second to last big area of home safety is SO big, I won’t really even touch it except to give you a few really good links to get started. The main safety concerns, even for babies, are covered above, but click below for more.
Disaster Kit Here’s your big one, your Go Bag, your earthquake/wildfire/hurricane/the-power-is-out-for-a-week solution, which many more people have felt in this country than ever before with the crazy weather. These kits can be extensive, so I’ve culled a list of the essentials and provided links to more. Most of these things really can be kept in a plastic bin in a closet or garage, and the biggest storage issue is the water, which is nice to have for even the slightest of power outages.
Food – 3 Day Supply of non perishable food
Water – 1 gallon per person per day for three days
Flashlight & extra batteries
Extra cell phone battery or Solar Charger
Safety Matches
Candles
Whistle
Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both