3 Ways to Make Your Home a Healthier and Safer Environment for Your Family

All children differ in their range of abilities and interests, but one thing that most children have in common no matter their age istheir curiosity. Children will somehow find themselves in some of the most precarious and dangerous situations around the home, and while all they want to do is explore and learn, they can sometimes end up bringing harm to themselves. Not only is there a risk of injury around the home, but there are also many harmful toxins, parabens, carcinogens and germs which can go unnoticed in the air and on the surfaces around the home which are harmful to the health of your family. For these reasons and more, it is important to find ways to make the home environment safer for everyone, so here are some simple tips on how you can do just that.

Guard against accident and injury

Due to the curious nature of children, some bumps and bruises along the way as they explore the world are to be expected, but as parents its only natural to want to make the home a safe haven for your children. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to make your home a little safer, such as lowering your water heater to 120 degrees F, as 140 degrees F can scold children in seconds, and always testing the water temperature before a child uses it. Additionally, some other points of reference would be to use safety locks on windows, and gates on staircases, to prevent accidental falls.

Avoid irritants and allergens

There are a range of indoor environmental pollutants which can easily go unnoticed in the atmosphere, as well as allergens which cling to material surfaces around the home. While there are simple steps which can be taken to avoid the worst of these substances, such as creating a smoke-free environment and protecting against mold, these only protect against the more visible threats. To protect against allergens, you might also consider using a hypoallergenic memory foam mattress topper in each of your bedrooms, as this stops mattresses for becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites. Additionally, it is beneficial to use as many natural cleaning products as you can, and avoid using toxic anti-bacterial sprays and pesticides around the home which may contaminate the air and irritate the skin.

Test for harmful gases

Many parents know the importance of having, and regularly testing, any and all fire alarms in the home to guard their family against the threat of fire. However, there are many households that do not utilize carbon monoxide monitors, which are also incredibly important in any homes where gas is used, such as forheating or cooking utensils, as well as in homes where open fires are used. Moreover, there are even fewer parents who know about the harmful effects that high levels of radon, a radioactive gas which is naturally released when uranium breaks down in soil, rocks, and water, can have on their family’s health and wellbeing. Thankfully, there are simple test kits available to check the environment around the home for such dangerous substances, in order to provide you with some peace of mind.