Introducing Safe Sweet Home

Carbon monoxide, pesticides, solvents, gasoline, propane, fertilizers, radon, fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, lead paint, asbestos, water contamination, harmful plastics, recalled products, formaldehyde, pools and matches. The list of potential hazards in the home goes on and on and is half the genesis for my blog on home safety, health and environment.

The other half of my blog genesis is my career. I’ve seen firsthand how devastating injuries can be. Imagine not being able to use a computer because the pain in your wrists is so debilitating. What would you do for a career in this day and age of the computer? Professionally, I’ve dedicated my life to preventing injuries in the workplace.

My goal here is to use my expertise to educate individuals and families and help them to take small steps to make their homes safer, healthier and greener. Why do I believe this is valuable?

Injuries happen.
People die unnecessarily every year because simple safety precautions are unknown, overlooked or ignored. According to the Home Safety Council every year nearly 20,000 people are fatally injured and more than 20 million people require medical care for home injuries. Homes with infants, young children and elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable.

Hazards can be hard to identify.
I wouldn’t necessarily look at the window drapery or blind cords in a person’s house and think “danger,” but these items are listed as one of the Top Five Hidden Home Hazards by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many common household items pose hidden hazards.

It can be hard to make the right choices.
We live in a fast paced world. Companies race to introduce new products that will make our lives “better,” sometimes with little regard for product safety. It’s not always easy to know what is safe, healthy or green, and many of the products that are supposed to make our lives better end up causing more harm than good.

Through my blog, I’ll teach you what to look out for and prevention methods to keep your family safe. I’ll help you sort through the confusion and pick the safest products to use in the home, and I’ll explore ideas that are good for your home as well as the planet.

So tip No. 1, keep reading this blog and create a Safe Sweet Home.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sue H.

5:32PM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Appreciate this and waiting for more.

send a green star

Andrew P.

4:44PM PDT on May 16, 2008

Thanks for your ideas Mary! I do encourage everyone to check out the link in the article to the top 5 hidden home hazards; there may be some in your home you hadn't thought of. Take Care, Andrew

Past Member .

11:42AM PDT on May 14, 2008

Thank you Annie; I was inspired by Andrews blog...but you are right ...It helps to make chores not seem so tedious but an enhancement to our home.....changing the attitude helps :-)). Need some inspiration for spring cleaning ?!?

Annie B.

11:03AM PDT on May 14, 2008

What a cute comment, Mary W! Nothing like putting a sunny spin on chores!

11:00AM PDT on May 14, 2008

I think I shall call my repair and maintenancelist my "Home Sweet Home list"

10:44AM PDT on May 14, 2008

Yes...the blind cord! It is extra long and some times land on the floor...sometimes at night when I go to close or open the window and forget that the cord is on the ground. It has happened that the cord has got caught on my leg and nearly tripped me up....it needs to be repaired. So I guess a good tip would be to do repairs on anything that needs repairing quickly. And the dripping tap..that took almost two years before I did anything about it...what a bother. Would it be a good idea to have a repair list and deal with it asap?

Sudha C.

11:22AM PDT on May 9, 2008

this sounds interesting! looking forward to read more from this blog!

Randy P.

10:51AM PDT on May 9, 2008

Thanks Andrew - sounds interesting, and important. Looking forward to reading more!

Laurie P.

10:03AM PDT on May 9, 2008

I look forward to more from this blogger!