The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-03-30
Home Is Where
The Hurts Are
Saws Katharine Fisher

Says Katharine Fisher
An airplane falls from the sky.
Within an hour headlines shrek the
disaster. Automobile crashes, mine
explosions, ships sinking at sea,-sit-
ting by our fireside we read about
scores of accidents and thank our
lucky stars that we are safe under our
own rooftree. We've nothing to fear.
But three streets away Mrs. Jones
trips and falls downstairs and lands
in the hospital for six weeks with a
broken leg. Over in the South Ward
Bobbie Brown, aged three, pulls pot
of boiling water off the stove with IA
| tai results. The newspapers, if they
report such accidents at all, usually
give them a few lines on back page
where we seldom see them. They are
too commonplace for headlines. They
happen every day.
1t is their very commonplaceness
and their frequency that make home
accidents the greatest menace to life
and limb in the United States today.
Actually your chances of being maim-
ed or killed are fewer while driving
your car, flying the skyways, or be-
ing anywhere else than "safe" at
home. The record proves it. Every
year home accidents which are serious
enough to be reported outnumber al
most all other kinds of accidents COM
bined. In 1898, 4,750,000 people were
killed or injured in home accidents.
In the same period deaths from home
accidents exceeded deaths from traffic
accidents by 500. The cost of home
accidents, in wages lost, medical care
and other expenses, has been estl-
mated at nearly three-quarters Of
billion dollars annually.
i The most tragic part of it all is that
many home accidents do not have to
happen. The Home Safety Committee
Of the National Safety Council, of
which | am a member, has analyZed
thousands of home accidents, and find
that their chief causes are: Careless
ness, Indifference to Risk, and Ignor-
ance of Danger.
Perhaps you've never had serious
) accident in your home. But unless
: you can look your conscience squarely
in the eye and say you have never
been guilty of these three sins against
safety-look out! The chances are eX-
: cellent that you will have one. Now
is the time to prevent it by careful
check-up of your home, and perhaps
, some of your habits. Here are some
of the commonest causes Of home ac-
| cidents, and ways to avoid them:
Falls
: Falls lead the list of home accidents.
An old offender is the skidding scatter
rug. You can anchor your rugs firm
: ly with one of several products we
have found to be satisfactory, which
do not harm rugs or floors in any way.
Waxed floors should the wax
evenly applied and, if wax is used
which requires rubbing, the floors
: should be well butfed; otherwise they
may be slippery.
Poor lighting facilities cause many
falls. Each room should have a wall
switch by it's door, so lights can be
turned on before entering. Stairways
need "double acting" switches at top
and bottom, so that lights can be
turned on before starting up or down,
and off again afterward. Beside lamps
or switches save stumbling and fall
ing when arising in the dark. Small
electric night lights make dark hall
ways, bathrooms and other rooms
safe, and you can burn them con-
n. tinuously with trillng expense. Stair
ways need guard rails. Bathtubs and
showers are safer when provided with
sturdy grasping rail. Use an APP
proved, sturdy stepstool or stepladder
when climbing, instead of rickety
box or other makeshift.
Burns and Scaids
=. Most injuries from burns and scalds
happen to little children. Keep small
children out of the kitchen as much
as you can, and especially when you
are preparing meals. Do not leave a
little child unguarded in the bathtub
he may turn on the hot water. Dry
cleaning fluids are either highly in
nammable or give off toxic fumes.
Keep a small bottle of non-innam-
mable fluid for removing an occasional
SJdlll. Use IL Ill Wcl-NcllllldLSC
room. But for thorough job, send
your clothes to reliable drycleaner.
Electric Hazards
Look into the extension cords on
your portable lamps and appliances
If they are fraycd or worn, replace
them promptly with new cords which
, bear the "bracclet label" of the I'm
: derwritcrs' Laboratories. There are
: different types Of cords for different
kinds Of appliances. BE sure you buy
the right type. Do not use portable
electric appliances of any kind in the
bathroom. The shock hazard in the
bathroom with its moisture and water
connections is too great. If fuse
h "bloWs", it is a sign of trouble
o short circuit or overload. Do not re.
n place a fuse until you have located anc
n corrected the trouble Don't string
y: makeshft wiring along baSeboards o,
y picture molding, and especially no,