Elements of a Home Safety Assessment to Limit Burns and Other Injuries

​Home healthcare staff can perform a brief home assessment and take other steps to help plan a safe environment to limit the risk of burns and other unintentional injuries to clients,according to an article in the November/December 2013 Home Healthcare Nurse. The home assessment should look for high-risk situations, such as missing or inoperative smoke detectors or security bars on windows that could stop someone from fleeing a fire. Other safeguards that should be in place include ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets, which can limit the risk of electrocution, and limits on hot water heater temperature, which should not allow water to reach 120°F.