Bike Safety

• Protect your head...Wear a helmet.
• See and be seen...Wear bright fluorescent colors during the day.
• Avoid biking at night...If riding at night, equip your bicycle with head and tail lights and wear reflective clothing.
• Stay alert...Keep a lookout for obstacles in your path.
• Go with the flow...Ride with traffic.
• Check for traffic...Be aware of traffic around you.
• Learn the rules of the road...Obey traffic laws.
• Assure bicycle readiness...Is your bicycle properly adjusted?
• Check brakes before riding.
• Check your wheels..."Quick release" wheels should be securely fastened.

Child Safety

• Keep small objects like small toys and parts of toys, marbles, balloons, small balls and coins off the floor and out of reach of children.
• Toys designed for older children should be kept out of the hands of little ones.
• Follow labels that give age recommendations; these age recommendations are based on safety concerns.
• Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger siblings.
• Check the eyes and noses of stuffed animals to ensure they are properly secured.

Pools

• Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be out of a small child's reach. Keep furniture that could be used for climbing into the pool area away from fences.
• If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.
• A power safety cover -- a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area -- can be used when the pool is not in use.
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool and be sure a phone is poolside with emergency numbers posted. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a lifesaver.
• Don't leave pool toys and floats in the pool or pool area that may attract young children to the water.
• For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.
• If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Look for alarms that meet the requirements of the ASTM standard. The commission advises that consumers use remote alarm receivers so the alarm can be heard inside the house or in other places away from the pool area.
• To prevent body entrapment and hair entrapment/entanglement, have a qualified pool professional inspect the drain suction fittings and covers on your pool and spa to be sure that they are the proper size, properly attached, and meet current safety standards. If your pool or spa has a single drain outlet, consider installing a safety vacuum release system that breaks the vacuum to avoid potential entrapment conditions.

Home Safety:

• Make sure smoke alarms are installed on every floor outside sleeping areas and in every bedroom, and are in good working order.
• Look for telltale signs of electrical problems such as dimming of lights, frequent circuit breaker trips or blown fuses.
• Ask a qualified electrician if your home would benefit from AFCI protection, especially during inspections of older homes or upgrades to electrical systems.
• Limit the use of extension cords, particularly cords used to power room air conditioners.
• Use light bulbs that are the proper wattage for the fixture - higher wattage bulbs can degrade the wires in and around the fixture.
• Install and maintain smoke alarms.
• Maintain and properly use gas and electrical appliances.
• Never leave food cooking unattended; turn off the burner if you have to leave.
• Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan.

Poisoning Safety

1. Keep all household products and medicines locked up, out of sight and out of reach.
2. Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use or choose child-resistant unit packaging, which does not need to be re-secured.
3. Call 1-800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
4. When products are in use, keep children in your sight, even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.
5. Keep items in original containers.
6. Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using.
7. Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.
8. Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine so you can see what you are taking. Check the dosage every time.
9. Avoid taking medicine in front of children.
10. Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.