Accident prevention | Carbon monoxide | Child safety | DIY | Electric blankets | Falls | Fire prevention | Fireworks | Garden safety | Gas appliances | Hazardous Chemicals |

Simple, everyday activities like preparing food, cleaning windows and DIY are the cause of millions of accidents in our homes each year. The simple fact is that there are many more accidents and deaths in the home than on the roads.

Accident prevention

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has responsibility for home safety in Government has a dedicated website on home safety containing advice, statistics and research. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for community fire safety.

The DTI produces a range of free safety literature and topics covered include, how to prevent and treat burns & scalds in the home and advice on choosing appropriate toys for children.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) website has a home safety factsheet explaining the sort of accidents that happen at home and what you can do to prevent them happening.

Carbon monoxide

The Home Safety Network website has information on the dangers of carbon monoxide in the home, the signs to look out for and how to keep safe.

Child safety

The DTI produces a range of free child safety literature, covering issues from toys to burns and scalds. 

Wigan Council Trading Standards website has a useful parent's guide to using and buying things for your child's nursery.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) runs Child Safety Week an annual event, which aims to increase the awareness and understanding of children's accidents and their prevention.

DIY

Wigan Council Trading Standards website gives practical safety tips to help you avoid having or causing an accident when you're doing DIY around the house.

The DTI has available a number of safety leaflets giving practical advice to help prevent accidents in the home and garden.

Electric blankets

The Home Safety Network website has guidance on choosing and using electric blankets. The Trading Standards Institute website has information on where you can get your electric blanket serviced.

Falls

The DTI's Home Safety Network website contains a wide range of resources on falls prevention aimed at the public and practioners. revent accidental falls amongst older people. Help the Aged also offer advice on this issue

Fire prevention

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website provides advice on how to protect your home from fire. The British Fire Service website gives advice and guidance on fire safety in the home, the kind of fire extinguishers you should have and what to look for when you are choosing a smoke alarm.

Fireworks

The UK fireworks safety website provides information on how to use fireworks safely. It also provides advice and guidance on garden, public and school displays.

The DTI's Home Safety Network website has details on the Government's annual firework safety campaign and lists the resources available.

Garden safety

The DTI website has free leaflets available on garden safety including how to make your pond safe.

Gas appliances

The Health and Safety Executive website has information on the safe use of gas appliances. 

If you think you can smell gas in your home, report it to Transco immediately on 0800 111 999.

Hazardous Chemicals

The DTI's Home Safety Network website has advice on the dangers of some household chemicals including cleaning materials and medicines.

Last updated: 18 March 2004