Risk of home injuries rises during pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing families to be inside their homes for longer periods of time, and that means an increased risk of injuries from common household hazards according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Joe Martyak, the director of communications for CPSC, said it's important for each family to make their homes safer so they limit the potential for illness or injuries that are not related to COVID-19.

"We don't want to have your family be injured and end up going to the emergency room, especially now when the emergency rooms are overwhelmed with dealing with the coronavirus," Martyak said.

As parents continue to telework and home school their kids during the public health crisis, Martyak said it's easy to become preoccupied and forget about dangerous situations.

"A lot of times, for example, you have the new flatscreen TV and you put the old TV in the children's room," Martyak said.

"So you send them off to watch TV. That's a problem because they're not being supervised and they can climb on the furniture, and that older TV is a heavier TV and it's more likely to tip over and the weight of it can really crush a little child."

The CPSC has different COVID-19 checklists on their website that offer great reminders for families who look after people from a variety of ages.

Martyak said spending a little time and money on making activities and parts of your home safer goes a long way.

"These little steps, they don't take much. Whether it's just getting the anchoring kit, or making sure you put the baby to rest the proper way, or to make sure the seniors have their medication locked up, or the disinfectants are all put away," Martyak said.

"But those little steps can create a huge difference in the lives of you, your family, and your friends."

Household cleaners and disinfectant wipes can also be poisonous, so the CPSC is urging to families to keep those items sealed with child safety packaging, locked up, and out of a child's reach.