Everyone knows that home is where the heart is. What fewer people may be aware of is that home can also be where many dangers lie. The Home Safety Council (HSC) is a national organization dedicated to preventing home injuries. Its overall mission is to "educate and empower families to take actions that help keep them safer in and around their homes." Given the statistics surrounding household injuries, it's clear that this mission is an important one.

In its State of Home Safety in America Report 2004, the HSC found that, on average, there are nearly 20,000 deaths due to unintentional home injury per year. On top of that, an average of 21 million medical visits also result from injuries suffered in the home.

"Keeping loved ones safe at home requires a daily commitment," says Meri-K Appy, president of HSC. "We want families across America to realize that a safe home is in their hands and to put that awareness into action each and every day."

Families might be surprised to learn that falls account for an average of 6,000 deaths and 5.1 million injuries per year. Not as surprising is the fact that older adults are most vulnerable to this type of accident. "Common slipping and tripping hazards that are easy to fix are too frequently overlooked in American households," says Appy. The HSC recommends families perform a home safety walk through to minimize the risk of tripping and falling. Make sure to address such common problems as floor clutter, poorly lit hallways and stairwells and slippery surfaces such as bathtubs or throw rugs without liners.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.