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Winter 2006
Volume 3, Number 4 |
It's Fall...Prevention
Stephanie Malench, MSW, LCSW
Full Living Services
ssmmsw01@aol.com
The kids are back in school and the weather is getting cooler. That
means spending more time in and around the house. The following are
some simple things you can do to make your house safer for you and
your family.
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Heat safely-
Be extremely careful with space heaters. The safest way to use a
space heater is to not use it. Make sure to get your furnace
serviced early in the season to avoid the long waits when the
winter chill sets in.
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Chimney sweep-
Even if you do not use fireplaces, if your furnace is vented out
through a chimney, you are at risk for a fire if you have not
had this done for several years (if at all). Contact your
heating and cooling service professional for more help and
information.
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Fasten throw
rugs- Throw rugs are a hazard not just for older adults with
mobility issues, but also for young children. Discount and
hardware stores sell adhesive rug backing to help keep your rugs
flat.
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Keep
sidewalks and stairs leading to the house clean- Sweep away
leaves and keep a bucket of salt ready for the snow and ice.
Additionally, make sure your handrails are in tact and secure.
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Smoke alarms-
Make sure to change the batteries in your smoke detectors (and
if you don’t have any get one for each bedroom and one for
outside the kitchen).
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Brighten up-
As darkness moves in earlier, make sure you have new light bulbs
in fixtures around stairwells and entryways.
These are just a few
of the things you can do to keep you and your family safe. If you
rent make sure you contact your landlord to make sure these items
get completed. If he or she is out of town and you are unable to
complete these items yourself, or if you are a low income home
owner, here are some resources to help you get your projects done.
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Home Care
Handyman- 314-771-1140
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American Ramp
Systems- 314-409-4292
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St. Louis Area
Agency on Aging (referrals)- 314-612-5918
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Rebuilding
Together- St. Louis- 314-918-9918
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Urban League of
Metro St. Louis, Inc.- 314-615-3600
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