Accidental injury ranks as one of Canada's most pressing health problems. Much of the resource of our country's health-care system is devoted to attending to injury victims. Hospital beds and emergency room facilities could be put to better use if more people practiced safety measures. Please be safe.

Home Fires/Burns:
	Install a smoke detector on each floor of your home and check the batteries twice a year. Note that rechargeable batteries don't give you any warning when they are wearing out and can simply die at the end of their charge.
	Since smoke rises, attach the alarms up, on, or near the ceiling.
	Remove dirt and dust from smoke alarms to keep them in good working order.
	Keep a fire extinguisher near each exit and in the bedroom and kitchen.
	Avoid running electrical cords under rugs.
	Keep heaters away from curtains and other materials.
	Install ground-fault interrupters in your bathrooms. An electrical shock could render you unconscious and unable to escape a fire.
	Have your furnace inspected and cleaned every year.
	Hold a fire drill, showing everyone how to stay low and exit from the dwelling. Have a meeting place a safe distance away from the home.
	Discard combustible materials, such as newspapers, after you have finished with them.
	Store flammable liquids in a cool, ventilated place away from any source of heat.
	Never allow dry leaves and rubbish to accumulate next to the outer wall of the house, especially if the cladding is wood.
	If you have a wood stove, have it inspected for clearances and acceptability.
	If you have a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned regularly.
	Make sure your chimney is sufficiently tall: sparks from a short chimney could easily reach the second-story roof or blow through an open window.
Adverse Travel Conditions:
	Carry emergency equipment in your vehicle, including a snow shovel, battery jumper cables, a bag of sand or traction pads, a towing cable, flares, a complete set of warm clothing and boots, a blanket and a few candles.
	Beware of "black ice", a thin layer of ice that is often invisible.
	Keep all windows clear of snow and ice.
	Tell someone about your travel plans.
	Wear your safety belt properly, using both the lap and shoulder belt.
	Put an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the center of the back seat.
	Secure infants and small children in child safety seats that are proper for the size and age of the child, and that are properly secured to the vehicle.
Falls:
	Keep outside steps, sidewalks and driveways free of ice and snow.
	Use ladders, not stools or chairs, to reach for things.
	Keep stairs clear of clutter.
	Keep electrical cords and wires away from traffic areas.
	Clear away toys, boxes, papers, etc. from the floor.
Appliances:
	Do not use electrical appliance with frayed cords and do not overload electrical wall sockets.
	Don't allow grease to build up in an oven or microwave.
	Keep appliances clean and in good working order.
	Read operating instructions before using a new appliance.
	If a switch or electrical outlet doesn't work properly, don't use it until you find what is wrong and correct it.
	Make sure all electrical appliances bear the label of a testing agency, e.g., the Canadian Standard Association.
	Do not ever handle electrical appliances in wet surroundings.
	Remove the plug from the outlet when cleaning and repairing any appliances.
	Shut off all appliances immediately after use.
	Turn all pot handles inward on the stove so they won't be accidentally bumped or grabbed by children.
	Handle all microwave containers as if they were hot.
	Many fires begin when food is left unattended on the stove.
	Clean up clutter around the stove.

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