Life Happens 365 - Are You Managing the Risk?

By Diane Tait Image courtesy needpix Now that summer break is here, there comes the pitter patter of little feet around the house.   Since kids spend a lot of time indoors or close to home when the temperature is in the 90’s, we parents need to take the time to make sure that our home and yard are safe havens.   On the average, more than 12,000 deaths to young people aged 0-18 years happen every year in the US from injuries.   Plus, there are many more times that number when injuries occur to kids that are serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room.   While all these incidents are tragic, what’s even more tragic is that many of them were preventable.   To help you keep you keep your kids out of harm’s way, I’d like to devote this week’s blog to household safety tips.

By Diane Tait Image courtesy flickr While home ownership is still one of the last bastions of the American Dream, sometimes owning the modern American home is not without a few issues.   While things like asbestos shingles and lead piping are things of the past, one hazard that’s all too current in modern homes is the threat of fire.   I recently read a report by Safeco Insurance that pointed out today’s homes are an even bigger firetrap than those of yesteryear.   That’s because modern homes are more open (which aids the spread of fire), and the man-made material that’s contained therein is more combustible than comparable all-natural material.   Even the stuff that’s used to construct many homes is far more flammable than solid wood, concrete or masonry.   With that in mind I thought I’d dedicate this week’s blog to showing all my readers how to learn not to burn.