Almost everyone is afraid of injuring themselves. Through this guide, you will learn how to avoid injuring yourself in every day life.
Step 1
Stay alert and use caution in your activities. Knowing the inherent risk in everyday activities will help you keep safe. Here are a few to give you an idea how to do this.
- Power tools and machines.
- Saws, drills, and other woodworking tools.
- Keep all guards and safety features in good condition. Many experienced craftsmen end up at the hospital when they circumvent or disable safety features to speed a job up, or make a task easier. Blocking guards, removing safety switches, and crowding workpieces is not worth the risk.
- Check the machine's condition. Tag out defective tools, replace damaged power cords, and inspect blades before use.
- Use recommended safety equipment, such as eye and hearing protection, gloves, and boots.
- Avoid jewelery and loose fitting clothes, and keep long hair tied back or tucked under a cap.
- Garden equipment.
- Avoid obstacles when using a mower, weed-eater, or tiller.
- Use the correct techniques for each piece of equipment. Read the owner's or operator's manual for specific instructions.
- Keep the machine in good working condition, including sharpening or replacing dull blades, replacing loose belts, and cleaning the machine after each use.
- House hold appliances.
- Never use electrical appliances near water. An exception may be made when using a Ground Fault Recepticle, but this is not a guarantee of your safety, as these devices can be subject to failure.
- Plug appliances into the correct type of recepticle. Do not remove a grounding prong from a three prong plug to adapt it for use in a two prong recepticle.
- Never use excessive extension cords. The length of extension cord you may use is determined by the amperage of the appliance, and the guage (size) of wire. A good rule of thumb is:
- 15 Amps 100 feet using 12 ga. conductors, 10 Amps or less, 100 feet using 14 ga. conductors.
Step 2
Keep your home safe. You should be aware of basic home safety methods and issues. Some of these include:
- Smoke and/or fire alarms. If you use battery powered units, replace the batteries annually.
- Carbon Monoxide detectors. Again, replace batteries annually.
Step 3
Keep your home free of clutter and debris. Injuries associated with tripping a falling in the home are common.
Step 4
Keep handrails and bannisters on stairways securely anchored and in good condition.
Step 5
Make your bathroom safe. If you have difficulty or limited mobility, have grab bars installed in your bath tub. Also use an anti-slip bath mat in your tub or shower, and avoid products in the for bathing in glass containers.
Step 6
Keep the kitchen safe.
- Do not drop sharp knives or other objects in dirty dishwater.
- Cover stove burners with burner covers when they are cooling after use.
- Keep the floor and countertops clean.
- Avoid or cleanup spills immediately to prevent slipping.
Step 7
Use an ergonomic keyboard, a wrist pad, and a wrist support for using your mouse to prevent repetitive motion injuries when using a computer. These can result in serious medical conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome requiring surgery to correct.
Step 8
Be extra careful when putting up and taking down holiday decorations.
- Use proper techniques when using a ladder. Basically, this means leaning the ladder away from the structure 1 foot for each 4 feet up you are going.
- Never climb on an ice or snow covered roof.
- Use the correct extension cords for outdoor lighting. They should be marked "outdoor use", and you should never overload them.
- Keep extension cords out of walkways.
Step 9
Keep sidewalks and walkways clear of snow and ice.
Step 10
Be careful when playing sports. Here are a few examples, but basically, follow the rules, and stay within your physical limits.
- Wear a helmet and other protective gear when required, whether cycling, playing football, or skateboarding. Make sure your helmet is designed for the sport you are participating in.
- Warm up prior to strenuous exercise, and cool down afterwards, to prevent muscle strain and tendon and ligament damage.
- Use the correct footwear for each sporting activity.
- Wear eye protection where appropriate.
- Do not overdo it. When beginning a new exercise program, or starting a new sport, begin slowly.
Step 11
Be careful around swimming pools. Never dive in shallow water, never swim alone, and use caution on slippery surfaces.
Step 12
Use sunscreen to avoid sunburn whenever you are in bright sunshine for any significant length of time. Remember, even if you are going out for a moment, you may be sidetracked and end up staying out for hours, so if the sun is bright, put on a hat and use sunscreen or sunblock.
Step 13
Driving your car, or riding with someone else.
- Buckle your seat belt.
- Never drink and drive, or ride with someone who is or has been drinking.
- Drive only when you have had sufficient rest.
- Avoid driving in hazardous weather conditions, including snow, sleet, flooding rain, or fog.
- Keep your car well maintained, with good brakes, safe tires, and a clean windshield.
Step 14
Follow all on-the-job safety procedures, and use all safety equipment properly. Because jobs encompass limitless hazards and conditions, this article will not attempt to cover them all.
Tips
- Carry Band-Aids. It is important to be prepared for accidents even if you are trying to avoid them.
- Saline solution is good to keep around. It is mainly used for contacts, but it can also help to wash out your eye when exposed to toxic chemicals.
- Life is dangerous, but using common sense and caution will decrease your chance of injury. Do not let fear of being hurt prevent you from enjoying life.
Warnings
- There are a million more ways to be harmed. Constantly be on alert to avoid all kinds of situations.
Things You'll Need
- Protective equipment for any sports activities, hobbies, or handyman projects you attempt.
