Safety should be a primary concern for every homeowner, and while many pest are simply pesky, others pose real safety hazards. Other hazards exist within a home as well, and homeowners should be aware of them, especially if they have small children, says Fred Willey. As owner and president of Invader Pest Management, based in Glendale, Arizona, he gives his top safety tips here, to protect both you and your family…
Being safe at home is incredibly important, although many people tend to under-estimate the hazards that exist when we’re in our own homes. After all, your home should be your castle, and most people think once they are safely inside that no harm can befall them. But playing it safe means being aware of potential safety hazards before they become real dangers.
Pest Tips
Because we live in a desert environment here in Arizona, we are faced with pests that may be harmful, such as scorpions, aggressive bees, other stinging insects and snakes. The main rule of thumb when it comes to safety and these types of pests is to always be aware of your environment – look before you step, and don’t take unnecessary risks.
Other tips include:
- Never leave your shoes outside. Always shake and look inside yourself before putting them on.
- Always contact a professional for bee control: Do not attempt to do it yourself. Most bees in our area are now aggressive bees and they will attack in force if provoked. Don’t take a chance and put yourself, your family, your neighbors and your pets at risk.
- If you believe you have a rodent in your home, call in a professional. Don’t try to trap the rodent yourself, and never attempt to shoot one. If you miss, that bullet or pellet has to land somewhere!
- If you have lots of weeds, don’t just wait for them to die and then collect them when dry. Not only will they come back, but a surplus of dried weeds in this area is a definite fire hazard. Professional weed control could be the answer.
Home Safety Tips
Wherever you live, it is important to implement good safety practices at home, especially if you have small children. Here are some of the most obvious ways to prevent accidents from occurring at home:
- Store all toxic substances out of reach of children, preferably in high cabinets with locks in their original containers, preferably with child-resistant caps. All cleaning agents are potentially toxic, so keep that in mind, and always store them away from food.
- Return all medications to their proper storage places, locked in a cabinet and not lying out where children can have easy access to them.
- Don’t store anything that is harmful or poisonous in a drinking glass or soda bottle. That might sound obvious, but it is often tempting to put leftover turpentine or some similar substance into a smaller bottle where it can be drunk accidentally.
Safety tips are important when it comes to preventing accidents from happening. And as most accidents occur either at home or close to home, following these tips can be vital to your safety, and that of your children.
