Jun 01,2007 00:00 In an effort to educate Americans about
everyday dangers they might encounter at home, the Home Safety
Council has named the month of June as Home Safety Awareness
Month. The council is a national nonprofit organization
dedicated to preventing the home-related injuries that each year
are responsible for an average of 20,000 deaths and 21 million
doctor's office and emergency-room visits. "We hope to bring
attention to the serious problem of preventable home injuries
and its leading causes: falls, poisonings, fires and burns,"
said council President Meri-K Appy. "Just a few simple steps can
dramatically reduce the dangers in most homes and may even make
a lifesaving difference." Throughout June, the Home Safety
Council encourages the public to consider their home's danger
areas and take the following steps to minimize their risk from
potential injuries or death: FIRES AND BURNS - Install smoke
alarms on every level of your home and in or near all bedrooms.
Test smoke alarm batteries at least