Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07

keeping mentally dleEL constitute
your protection against accidents
which last year caused 5000 IA
talties and estimated injuries to
100000 men, women and children in the
homes of this Nation. The National Safety
Council in Chicago says that 80 per cent of
home accidents are avoidable. Psychologists say
that the right mental attitude is the chief
agency for safety in the home. Sloppy house,
keeping produces accidents and good homemak-
ing promotes safety.
Before you read further, suppose that you
make sure your chair is resting on its four
legs and that your feet are on the floor and
not atop some support that may slide or over
turn. Recently school teacher was sitting
on tipped-back chair with her feet on the
top of wastepaper basket. The basket sud-
denly turned over. This caused the front legs
of the chair to come down upon the floor. The
young woman slid forward. Her head struck
the back of the chair, forcing hairpin into
the brain and causing instant death, according
to Hartford insurance company report.
There may appear to be no hazard in merely
sitting in chair, but be sure that 1t Is sub
stantial and will not fall in pieces. man
recently fractured two ribs when his favorite
rocking chair collapsed
ONE-HALF of all injuries are due to acci-
dents IN the home and about one-third
of these are caused by falls, the National Safety
Council has ascertained persons fall on slippery
f1oors tumble down trapdoors, fall from lad
ders get cuts and burns, drink poiSonS which
they think are something else and do all sorts
of thoughtless things that bring suffering into
the home and cause loss of time and money.
Many the falls could be avoided by OBJ
serving the simple practice of having a place
for everything and everything In its place.
Floors should be Of such material that splin-
tering and unevenness are avoided. Rugs on
highly polished floors should be secured by q
recently marketed hook attachment or by use
49, Ill. - Arne
To put wrinkled or an unsecured rug near
the top of stairway is counting trouble. Fur
niture should be so arranged that 1t Is not in
a direct line between doors, otherwise person
may fall as he walks across the room In the
darkness.
Stairways should be provided with railings-
at least one-to guard against falls. Do not
leave things on stairs; they often cause per-
son to fall. Worn spots and loose ends OF car
pets should be repaired as soon as they are dis
covered. This is particularly important when
they are on stairs. Proper lighting Of stair
ways is also necessary to promote safety.
Babies and small children should be given in
creased protection by gates placed at the top
and the bottom of stairways to which they
might gain access.
Children should be trained not TO allow their
toys to remain strewn around the home. When
a baby is old enough to toss toys around he is
old enough to learn that he should collect them
when he Is through playing and should place
L0em IN some DOX or OLneF receptacle
There have been many distressing conse-
quences from persons passing through doors
which they thought led to other rooms on the
same floor but which actually opened upon
stairways. If such trap exists in your home,
your family can be protected by installing elec-
trio switches so that when the door is opened
the light automatically turns on. This would
serve to warn absent-minded members of the
home and visitors
When you remove boxes and other things
from high shelves be sure to stand upon a
firm stepladder, a strong, well placed chair or
on some other substantial support. Do not use
a rocking chair for this purpose This precau-
ton is particularly important in cases where
the objects cannot be firmly grasped if you
stand on the floor. Make sure. too that the
things the shelf orderly that they
cannot slide off. See that the stepladder is in
good condition and also that it is spread cor
rectly when in use. If it has small platform
at the top to hold a pail tools, make it a
practice to use that platform for its intended
purpose, not to stand upon. If you use an
ordinary ladder which is set on slippery sur
face, have some one hold the bottom of the
ladder or else see that it is securely braced.
Though it seems too obvious to mention, a
safety aid is TO have ratings all porches
This is Of course, an imperative precaution in
homes where there are children.
1t is best to watch your step when enter
ing or leaving O batI1tub Mats are made