Leading Causes of Home Accidents


While your home should be a safe sanctuary for your family,
accidents can happen. We believe that being forewarned is being forearmed. If
you don’t already have homeowners insurance, it is highly recommended as there
is liability insurance built in which can protect both your family and others
in the event of an accident.

  1. Falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the
    home, claiming nearly 6,000 lives per year. Making sure your home is up to code
    (using an InterNACHI-certified inspector) can reduce the possibility of
    accidents in the home by eliminating dangers.
  2. Poisonings come in second in leading causes of deaths around
    the home with nearly 5,000 victims per year. Medication overdoses top the
    causes of poisoning claiming mostly young and middle-aged people. Always follow
    directions and never mix prescriptions with alcohol.
  3. Burns are the third leading cause of accidental fatalities
    in the home with more than 3,000 deaths per year. Making sure you have properly
    working smoke alarms in every room and outside of every sleeping area will
    greatly reduce fire injury. Again, having a home that is up to code is huge for
    reducing fires in general with many accidental fires being caused by electrical
    outlet shorts, improperly maintained water heaters and furnaces, and burn outs.
  4.  Choking, suffocation,
    and strangulation claims nearly 1,000 individuals per year, mostly children.
    Keep all extras out of infants’ cribs as they can roll over and suffocate in
    their sleep. Even in older children’s beds, make sure anything they could
    possibly choke on is out of the bed before bedtime.
  5. Last but not least, is water-related deaths with nearly 800 mortalities
    annually. Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to this problem.
    annually. Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to this problem.
    There should be at least a 4-foot high fence around all pools, spas, and ponds in
    your backyard and children should always be within arm’s reach while playing
    around water. Even in the bathtub, children should never be left unattended as
    it is possible to drown in as little as one inch of water.

While accidents can happen anywhere and at any time, knowing
the risks, can help to prevent the unexpected. Call up Sweeney & Sweeney
today to get a quote, and to make sure you, your family, and friends are
completely covered.