5 Bedroom Safety Tips

While equipment like an outdoor camera or video doorbell can help secure the perimeter of your house, what about the inside? Your bedroom should be a place for peace and quiet, rejuvenation and relaxation. The last thing you want to be worrying about is it’s safety and security. However, many people overlook simple steps to take when it comes to keeping their bedroom safe for everyone whether it be their partner or children. We’ll be going over a few tips for reducing bedroom dangers and turning it into the sanctuary it deserves to be.

Never Underestimate the Dangers of Falling

In America, falling out of bed accounts for approximately 600 deaths each year, with the elderly and young children being the majority of them. To reduce the risk of falling out of bed at night, you can implement these tips:

• Install a safety rail for those who are prone to the dangers of falling, for example, the elderly, infants, or other family members with disabilities.
• Invest in a toddler bed once your baby starts trying to climb out of the crib
• Secure rugs with anti-slip mats to avoid having someone take a fall
• Always make sure that the path to your bedroom door is easily accessible. That means removing any clutter on the ground like toys, clothing, or shoes that may block the way.
• If you or others have the habit of getting up during the middle of the night, consider investing in a nightlight.

Fire Safety is of Utmost Importance

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 36 percent of all house fires each year started from the bedroom. If you use incense or candles, remember to blow them out before going to bed, and don’t leave them burning unattended; it’s just not worth the risk. You may consider using electric candles as a replacement. It’s also been reported that the bedroom ranks at the top of the list of where the most electrical fires are started. Unkempt wiring and damaged sockets are the main causes of this, but other factors include:

• Using light bulbs with a wattage too high for the lamp
• Hanging clothes, or other fabric on the lampshade
• Running electrical cords underneath a rug
• Plugging too many devices at once into an extension cord
• Using a heater too close to flammable materials

Keep an Eye Out on Baby Cribs

Unfortunately, baby crib accidents account for 10,000 infant ER visits each year. However, this statistic could be easily reduced by following a few simple steps:

• Avoid old baby cribs. Opt to buy one that has passed stringent safety tests and is up to current safety standards.
• Do not use drop-side cribs. Between 2000 and 2010, this type of crib is responsible for at least 32 infant deaths, and as a result, can no longer be purchased in the United States.
• Keep up to date with the manufacturer of the crib so you can know if there are any safety recalls.
• Avoid keeping pillows, heavy blankets, or large stuffed animals in the crib to avoid suffocation.
• Don’t use crib bumper pads as the ties can cause suffocation or strangulation to the baby.
• Watch out for cribs with slats that are spaced too far apart. Ideally, they should be no more than 2.5 inches apart.
• The mattress and sides of the crib should have no empty spaces at all.
• Consider a baby cam, as the wireless security camera can be streamed in real-time to mobile devices when you are not in the room like the Toucan Wireless Outdoor Camera.

Check in on Seniors and Reduce Bedroom Hazards

Seniors are likely to spend more time in their bedrooms when compared to their younger counterparts. Navigating a bedroom at night can pose a challenge for elderly people suffering from physical mobility problems, general weakness, or vision difficulties. Whether it’s for daytime napping or nighttime sleeping, the hazards of a cluttered or difficult to navigate room increase greatly for the elderly. Here are some tips to enhance security and reduce the risk of falls and accidents:

• Make sure there is a good accessibility to the room, ideally it should be the ground floor with easy access to the door.
• Keep an eye on them by checking in regularly. Equipment like video doorbells, and surveillance cameras are definitely more suitable for outdoors, and may be intrusive to use in a bedroom. However, you should still keep an eye on seniors by checking in on them on a regular basis whether by calling or stopping by, especially if they live alone.
• Ensure adequate space in the room to accommodate for mobility aids that the elderly often need. This includes room for them to navigate if they use a cane, a stroller or wheelchair.
• Install smoke detectors, but for the elderly who may have hearing impairment, smoke detectors with flashing lights in addition to alarms will be able to alert them in case the sounds are not heard.
• Flat flooring will help in minimizing any potential tripping hazards. In fact, for senior bedrooms it’s a good idea to remove rugs altogether as they can easily cause slips and falls. In addition, wires and power cords should be well-fixed and placed out of the way, such as along the walls.

These are only a few tips for helping you improve bedroom safety and security, but act a good starting point for the often overlooked aspect in keeping loved ones safe. By exercising some common sense and using strategic furniture placement, you can avoid unnecessary dangers associated with falling accidents, fire hazards, and infant & elderly care. Start with these simple but effective steps to ensure the safety and comfort of those around you.