• Make sure stairways in your home are properly lit and clutter-free.Stairway to image by Carol Wingert from Fotolia.com
  
  We are used to seeing posted safety rules on job sites but don't typically expect to see a list of them in our homes. Regardless, everyone in the home should know some basic home safety rules so that, if faced with an emergency situation, each member of the household will know what to do. Develop a set of basic rules for the home and make sure everyone is aware of them.
  
  

Stair Rules

• Injuries from falls on the stairway are common, but, in most instances, if basic stairway safety rules had been heeded, the accident may not have occurred.
  
  Make sure there is proper lighting over stairways. Even if you have lived in your home your entire life and feel that you could navigate your stairs with your eyes closed, you cannot see if there is something on the stairs that could cause a fall.
  
  Enforce rules in the home about children leaving toys or other items on the stairs. Toys and other clutter can increase the chances of a fall down the stairs significantly.
  
  

Poison Prevention

• There are all kinds of things in our homes that can kill us. This might sound pretty dramatic, but it's true. There are numerous poisons contained in bottles, cans of cleaning products and other items that could result in serious health problems--or even death--if ingested.
  
  It's not likely that this will pose a problem for older kids or adults in the home, but a very young child might get into trouble. It is important, therefore, to designate a specific place to store all poisonous products. Make sure the storage spot is out of reach of children or is secured with a lock.
  
  

Change Alarm Batteries

• Smoke alarms or devices that detect gas leaks in the home usually run on batteries or at least have a battery back-up if they are hard-wired. These batteries occasionally need changing, even if the alarm hasn't been used.
  
  Adopt a rule in your home that requires the changing of batteries in these life-saving devices on the same day that you change the time on your clocks for daylight savings. This will result in a new set of batteries about every six months. If daylight savings does not apply to you, then choose two easy-to-remember dates that are approximately six months apart, such as Thanksgiving and Memorial Day.
  
  

Emergency Plans

• Develop emergency preparedness plans for your home and family in the event of fires, earthquakes, tornado warnings or hurricanes. Map out evacuation routes and meeting places outside the home (when appropriate), and practice the plan to ensure everyone is intimate with it.