Safety To-Do #7: Make Sure You Have Completed Safety Tasks 1 through 6!

Frequent readers of this blog know that, in between legal and financial analyses related to product safety issues, I try to provide safety information and tips to consumers.  At the beginning of the year, I started a weekly series of posts designed to make completing all those tasks we know we should do, but never seem to get around to doing, a bit more manageable.

On the advice of a friend who has had trouble keeping up, I have decided to slip in a catch-up week after every six tasks.  For those who have been diligently following along, this week will be a breeze.  For the rest, here is a re-cap of your first six safety to-do items:

Safety
To-Do #1: Take Down Holiday Decor and Store with Care

We all know that a dry Christmas tree is a fire danger, but did you know that how you take down and store mini lights can have an impact on your safety?  This post give tips for safely removing and storing decorations to avoid cuts and fires.  It also provides some interesting statistics on the number of Christmas tree fires and related deaths that occur in the US each year.

Safety
To-Do #2: Make Sure Your Home is Radon-Free

Radon is odorless, invisible radioactive gas that occurs naturally as water and soil decompose.  It typically enters homes through cracks in foundation or construction joints.  Breathing excessive levels of radon is a proven cause of lung cancer.  This post provides information on how detect and remove radon from your home.

Safety
To-Do #3: Sign Up for a CPR Training or Refresher Course

Few of us realize just how life-saving CPR can be.  The need for CPR can strike at any age at anytime.  A child who suffers traumatic injury, a coworker who is accidently electrocuted, or an elderly neighbor who experiences repertory failure – in each situation, a bystander who knows CPR can dramatically improve the chances of the victim surviving.  This post provides information about CPR training and where to find classes near you.

Safety
To-Do #4: Make Your Stairways Safer

After experiencing a painful fall on my own stairs, I decided to do some research and found I wasn’t alone.  Millions of people in the US present in emergency rooms every year due to falls on stairs.  This post provides a list of tips for making your stairs safer.  From lighting above to treads below, there is something here for each of us to do that will decrease the likelihood of a fall.

Safety
To-Do #5: Install at Least One Carbon Monoxide Detector in Your Home

With winter use of portable generators on the rise, so are the incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning.  The misinformation surrounding proper, safe use of portable generators is shocking, as people continue to believe it is safe to operate the generators indoors.  Carbon Monoxide (CO) is clear and odorless; even if you do not smell exhaust, you could be breathing CO.  This post provides information on the safe use of generators and where to find a CO detector.

Safety
To-Do #6: Give Your Valentine a Warning System… Really?

Though they are called weather radios, these warning systems track more than just hurricanes and tornados.  Amber alerts, 911 outages and terrorist attacks are just a few of the other types of alerts you can choose to receive (or not) with a weather radio.  This post tells what technology to look for when purchasing a weather radio to ensure you are only informed of the emergencies about which your are concerned, and that will provide you the extra time you need to keep your family safe.