In the last two years, many people have spent a huge amount of time at home. The pandemic led to intermittent lockdowns and restrictions that kept many of us at home. We worked in the spare bedroom, held home school in the living room and worked out in the garage. But do you know which is the most dangerous room in your house?
The National Accident Helpline surveyed 2000 Brits to find out where they had been injured at home. They also looked at dangerous household objects and our awareness of hazards in the home. As it turns out, almost three-quarters of respondents had injured themselves at home in the last year.
Let’s take a closer look at the most dangerous areas of the home.
Kitchen
Between knives and hot ovens, cooking can be quite a dangerous task. A whopping 60% of respondents had injured themselves in the kitchen while doing a culinary task. Almost half said they had injured themselves when using kitchen knives to prepare food.
Garden
The great outdoors is a dangerous place, and apparently, your garden is no different. Over a third of respondents injured themselves in their garden at home. They might have been on a ladder hanging up Christmas lights or using a hedge trimmer around the bushes. The garden tends to be a place with many hazards, from power tools to uneven surfaces.
Which city is the clumsiest?
Sheffield appears to be the clumsiest city in Britain, as 92% of Sheffield respondents have injured themselves at home – multiple times! Belfast residents are the most careful around the home and still have an injury rate of 40%. It seems the location of your property is not enough to protect you from at-home injuries.
Common accidents in lockdown
NHS data revealed that most than 5,600 people came into hospital after handling a power tool in 2020/21. Many people took up DIY projects in lockdown to keep themselves entertained. However, not as many people made an effort to read the safety instructions for their new power tool.
More than 5,300 people were admitted to hospital after falling over on the playground – including children, parents and grandparents. Playgrounds are dangerous places these days.
There were also several hundred accidents with lawnmowers and trees in lockdown.
Accidents happen all the time for all age groups. Identify the risks around your home and stay safe in the playground.
