What’s the most dangerous room in your house?

Our homes are our safe space where we can shut out the world; and given that most of us have spent more time in our homes in the last year than ever before you’d think we’d know if there were any dangers lurking there. But it turns out our home is the most common location for an accident to happen. So, what are the most dangerous rooms in the house, and how can you limit the dangers.

Kitchens

In a study conducted by National Accident Helpline, they found that the kitchen was the most dangerous room in the house. Accounting for 60% of household injuries, there are no shortage of hazards. And it’s not just children who are at risk from a kitchen nightmare, it appears adults of all ages have fallen foul of a kitchen knife. In fact, kitchen knives cause a 48.5% chance of injury, whereas there’s less than half the chance of an accident involving the hob at only 23.7%.

To reduce your risks in the kitchen keep sharp objects out of reach of children, and never leave a hob unattended. Keeping your knives sharp will also reduce the risk of them slipping and catching your fingers while you’re cutting.

Living room

Surprisingly, the living room is the third most dangerous place in the house after the kitchen and garden. If you have a rug in your living room, you’re tempting fate, as there’s nearly a 15% chance you could trip over it. And if you spend time ironing whilst watching TV, there’s a 10.9% chance you could injure yourself. Similarly, toys on the floor contribute to 8.2% of accidents – and given how painful LEGO is to stand on, it’s surprising it’s not more!

To reduce the likelihood of accidents in your living room, make sure rugs are secure and trailing wires are kept wrapped up and out of the way. Don’t leave the iron unattended when it’s switched on and keep it out of reach so little ones don’t grab hold of it.

Bathroom

The room in the house that can help relax you after a long day is also the room where just over a quarter of accidents happen. The main culprit is a wet floor, whether it’s getting in or out of a bath, or in the shower itself. And because carpets in bathrooms are no longer de rigueur – for design and hygiene reasons – if you slip on a wet floor in a bathroom you could seriously hurt yourself.

Non-slip bathmats are a must for bathrooms, and if you have mobility issues a walk-in bath or handles around the bath or shower area should be considered.