June is Home Safety Month (Leviton)
A Well Lit Home is a Safe Home
Home is the place we feel most secure, long for after a busy work day, and want
to share with family and friends. What many fail to realize, however, is their
home can also be a hazardous place if the proper steps are not taken to help
prevent household accidents such as slips and falls. Without proper illumination
throughout the home, the chance for accidents increases, especially near
staircases, and in basements, attics and garages.
Light the Way to Safety
According to The State of Home Safety in America™ (2004)conducted by
the
Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of unintentional home
injuries and deaths, accounting for an average of 5.1 million injuries and
nearly 6,000 deaths each year. Many of these incidents can be prevented with
simple changes to help make the home brighter.
Jay Sherman, Director of Marketing, Residential at Leviton Manufacturing, believes that choosing the proper lighting solutions is a key element for keeping a home safe: “It’s not only important to light areas with a high potential for accidents – like staircases and attics – but it is just as essential to install the proper equipment for each area of the home, most notably motion sensors outside and in places where you’ll be carrying things.”
Illumination Tips to Remember to Help Keep Your Home Safe
Homeowners should understand that poor lighting can create a potentially
hazardous living space, and consider the following tips:
- Choose illuminated switches, since the face glows it is easier to locate the light switch in a dark room or hallway
- Install wall switches with occupancy sensors and guide lights, which provide added safety with the lights automatically turning on when motion is detected
- Use programmable timers as a convenient and cost-effective way to control both indoor and outdoor lighting activity