The Detroit Tribune

Spring Cleaning And Home Accidents
Spring housecleaning and refurbishing call for particular care to prevent home accidents. Dr. Joseph G. Molner, City-County Health Commissioner, states. Dr. Molner draws attention to last year's improved record of reduction of fatal home accidents in Detroit and asks that every individual and family try to continue this improvement. There were 266 deaths due to accidents in homes in 1960 compared with 308 in 1959.
In 1960 falls led all other causes of fatal home accidents. Next highest was from poisonings including poisonings by gases and vapors and the third highest was due to fires and explosions.
Dr. Molner says prevention of home accidents must be the primary responsibility of the individual and his family. Family members are the only ones who can look critically at all of the safe practices and conditions in the home for the purpose of making them more safe.
During the spring cleanup of house and yard, give particular attention to the use of sharp tools and potentially dangerous cleaning materials. These include bleaches, cleaning fluids and anything else that could be poisonous to young children if swallowed.
When there are members of your household younger than five or older than 70, take particular care to remove hazards. Dr. Molner advises. Last year, 33 of those who died from home accidents were younger than five and 229 were 65 years old and older.
Good housekeeping can help to save lives. Make sure that balls, roller skates, wagons and empty bottles are not left on the stairways or in other places where they may create a hazard.
Keep brooms, mops and other articles off the steps to prevent tripping.
Take care so that your small rugs will not slip and if necessary use rubber pads and other devices to keep rugs from slipping. Arrange furniture so that foot stools and light cords will not cause falls.
Make sure floors are not so highly polished that they are dangerously slippery. Clean up all spilled water and oily liquids immediately.
If you are working above your head, use either a sturdy step-stool or ladder rather than an insecure substitute. Use only ladders with a good safety base.
Have a light switch at the door of each room so as you enter there will be sufficient light to prevent tripping and falling.
You may avoid falls if the bathtub has a rubber mat at the bottom and a hand rail on the wall. This is particularly essential for older persons.