Home Safety Facts

Leading Causes of Unintentional Home Injury Death

Fires, suffocation and drowning are the leading causes of unintentional home injury death among children in this age group. In 2004, approximately 2,300 children ages 14 and under died from unintentional injuries that occurred in the home. Nearly 80 percent of these deaths were among children ages 4 and under.

Prevention Strategies

Counseling and Education

Counseling and educational efforts moderately affect smoke alarm ownership in households. Community programs that give away smoke alarms have shown to reduce fire related injuries. Installation of a four-sided fence around home swimming pools has proven to be the only intervention effective in preventing drowning of young children. The fencing should include a self-closing and self-latching gate.

Window Guards

Window guards installed in homes have shown to be effective in preventing falls. New York City passed a regulation along with a window guard distribution program that resulted in a 35 percent reduction in window-related deaths and a 50 percent reduction in window-related falls.

Protective Surfaces in Playgrounds

Protective surfaces (rather than cement or asphalt) beneath playground equipment has shown to prevent the number of fall-related injuries as well as reducing the severity of injury.