Do you consider yourself accident-prone at home? Or are you good at avoiding injury in your personal space? Whichever way you see yourself, it seems that many Brits need to be more careful in their household.
Research done by no win no fee specialists found that homes are the most common place for accidents to happen. In fact, National Accident Helpline’s research states that 2.7 million Brits needed to go to the hospital after an accident in their house caused them injury. To find out more about the most common types of injuries and where they happen in the home, they surveyed 2,000 UK residents and this is what they revealed.
Where in the house do most accidents occur?
It turns out that accidents are most likely to occur in the kitchen. 60 per cent of the survey respondents said they had hurt themselves in their kitchen, which is perhaps unsurprising considering the number of hazards in this room. From sharp knives to boiling water and hot cooking surfaces, there are many things that can lead to injury in the kitchen.
In second place was the garden, which 33 per cent of people said they had experienced an accident in before, followed by the living room, bathroom and staircase.
What objects lead to injuries?
So when it comes to household items, which are most likely to cause harm? Seen as the kitchen came out as the top place for accidents to happen, it makes sense that the most hazardous items live in this room. Kitchen knives came out as having the highest risk of injury, with nearly half of those surveyed (49 per cent) saying they’d hurt themselves with one in the past.
Exercise equipment was the second-highest cause of injury, highlighting how important it is to remain safety conscious even in the comfort of your own home. Hobs, ladders and wet floors were also up there with the most common objects to cause injuries.
What are the most common DIY accidents and how do I avoid them?
Of course, completing home projects yourself is a great way to save money and make small improvements to the space. While most tasks are completed quickly and safely, there are some common accidents that occur during DIY. For instance, falling off a ladder, slipping while using a power tool, or cutting yourself with a blade are easy mistakes to make. One of the best ways to avoid injuries is to make sure you wear the right PPE, such as gloves, goggles, masks and anything else needed for the task at hand. In addition, you should always make sure ladders are secure before use and keep little ones away from work zones.
Hopefully, by understanding where and how most accidents happen in the home, you can take steps to make your home safer than ever.