Could you benefit from a home safety check?

Could you benefit from a free home safety check?

Following on from the recent awareness campaign around blind cord safety, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Home Safety Team is urging people to safeguard themselves at home.

Free checks are available if you are over 65 or have children under the age of 5.

Home Safety Officers can provide tips on all aspects of home safety.

Any potential risk can be identified, safety equipment can be arranged and any questions answered. The Fire Service for Northern Ireland can be contacted with any issues regarding smoke alarms and carbon monoxide checks are also available.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey, said: “I would urge all of our eligible residents to make full use of these free home safety visits. Our Home Safety Officers are experts in identifying and eradicating any potential dangers, and they are there to help you make your home as safe as it can be.”

And statistics prove that our homes are not as safe as we might think.

In Northern Ireland, 1500 people died as a result of accidents in the home between 2001 – 2013, representing a quarter of all deaths.

Falls are one of the major causation factors, accounting for just under half of the fatalities (480).

On average 17,000 people are admitted to our hospitals following a home accident and countless more attend A&E Departments and GP practices.

Other hazards in the home include poisoning, fire and smoke inhalation, strangulation (by blind cords) drowning and choking.

If you are interested in additional information or would like to book a home safety check, please contact us Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Health and Built Environment team, based at Riada House in Ballymoney by telephoning 028 2766 0200.