To prevent accidents at home, especially in the presence of children and elderly people, the following guidelines should be observed:

Provide adequate lighting in hallways and pathways. Make switches easy to locate and reach when people move from one room to another;

Maintain appliances properly and promptly repair damaged equipment, especially stoves, gas pipes, and electrical wiring;

Put away toys, tools, car parts and shoes after use to avoid tripping over them;

Keep matches and lighters, medicines and poisons out of children's reach;

Avoid overloading power ports; e.g. plugging appliances altogether in one electric socket;

Use proper voltage and fuses for circuits and equipment;

Keep rooms adequately ventilated, with enough air space around electric appliances;

Cover slippery floors with rubber or anchor mats and carpets;

Cover sharp-edged furniture, especially when children are learning to walk;

Use rubber mats in bath tubs to avoid slipping;

Never place electric equipment, such as hair dryers and heaters, where they can fall into areas with water;

Do not touch electric sockets and switches with wet hands. If you suspect a gas leak, a very strong smell of gas lingers and you cannot detect the source, try doing the following :

- Open all doors and windows
- Put out all open flames
- Shut off the main valve of the gas supply
- Do not turn any electric switches on or off, as you may cause an explosion
- Get the children and elderly out of the house and to an open area, and
- Notify your employer and call the gas company immediately.