Most families are spending more time focused on renovation projects than home safety, according to a new study by Colgate-Palmolive and the nonprofit, national Home Safety Council. The two have partnered to reverse the trend through a new home safety awareness campaign that includes online tips.
The “Interactive Safe Home” offers safety tips room-by-room, information to help identify and correct home hazards and a simple safety checklist for parents.
The poll, conducted by Kelton Research, found the average person has completed twice as many home improvement projects as home safety projects in the past two years. In the past two years, more than a third of those polled have paid for new appliances (38 percent), a new computer system (32 percent) and even new furniture or new upholstery (32 percent) to improve their homes, but barely one in four has purchased a carbon monoxide detector (24 percent). Even fewer households have been improved with basic safety items, such as grab bars for tubs or showers (14 percent), a disaster preparedness kit (13 percent) and child-proofing gear, such as window guards (9 percent). Furthermore, if respondents had an extra $3,000 to spend on their home, 85 percent said they would spend it on something other than home safety upgrades.
“This new survey reveals how many people in America fail to understand that a few simple safety measures can go a long way toward protecting their families, and improving their homes,” says Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy. “Because unintentional home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year, there simply is no more important home improvement than safety upgrades.”
Although more than half of the survey respondents (57 percent) said they were confident in their knowledge of the basic steps to take to ensure home safety, the survey confirmed most homes could use some help. When Americans were asked about their greatest concern if a child were playing in their home, just 6 percent cited home-related injuries.
Colgate-Palmolive and Home Safety Council provide a virtual tour highlighting simple safety steps to take in the kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom. Parents can print out a safety calendar and checklists and challenge children with games that teach safety rules. Relevant news articles on childproofing and cooking safety are also available. Visit www.colgateprotection.com.
