If your home has more than one floor, you are, no doubt, constantly going up and down the stairs through the day without giving it a second thought. However, many of the accidents that happen in the home are stair related. This is more often the case for the elderly, handicapped or young children. If your staircase is not in good condition, it could be a danger not just to your household but also to any guests you may have. What types things can contribute to a staircase becoming hazardous?
Handrails and banisters can become very dangerous if they become loose or if the banisters are spaced too far apart (which could trap a child’s head).
If the stairs are not of equal height, it will become very easy to trip and fall up them or even worse, fall down them. If the staircase is too steep this can also be perilous.
Another safety risk is loose carpeting on the stairs, again a very easy way to trip and fall. If you find that the carpet is starting to become loose, fix the problem immediately. Even if there is no carpet on a staircase, over polished wood can make wooden stairs extremely slippery especially when someone is just wearing socks.
Insufficient lighting can present a problem on and around a staircase. Those with failing eyesight or the elderly particularly need this area to be well-lit.
It is not just inside stairs that need attention, outside steps can be extremely dangerous if they are not properly maintained. They should also have the appropriate amount of slope so that water will not pool on them. This would be even worse if the water turns to ice.
Yes, it’s always good to remind ourselves of potential dangers in the home, so why not check your staircase this month and make sure it does not become a hazard.
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