The world can be uncertain at times. We all need that one place where we know we are safe: home. Whether you’re living alone or raising a family, safety at home is always important. It is the last place we should worry about getting hurt, or feeling insecure is in our home. There are options and ideas on how you can improve your home’s safety blueprint.

In America, we average a little more than $10,000 on home renovation projects. We take our homes seriously and enjoy creating spaces to suit our lifestyles. Home renovating is well worth the cost since we do our living in our house. If you are considering a home renovation project in your future, don’t forget that safety matters too — not just a beautiful home. Thankfully, with some home improvement safety tips, you will find you can have beauty, comfort, and safety in your home.

Keeping Others Out

For many, when we think “home safety,” our minds go immediately to security cameras and alarm systems. Even if you live in a great, peaceful neighborhood, sometimes that extra peace of mind is just what we need. Home intruders will sometimes force their way in when they know you are away…but other times it can happen while you are home. Either way is terrifying and dangerous. Your family’s safety is number one, and you deserve to leave your home or sleep safely there at night, knowing you will be alerted immediately of suspicious behavior. Homes outfitted with residental security systems often deter a home intruder through the sheer presence of a camera or lawn sign.

There are a wide variety of security systems on the market now. You can get a simple camera at your front door, or an entire house system which activates when any window or door is tampered with. Although many security systems can be installed as a DIY project, it is best to speak with a specialist, such as a locksmith, when making this important decision.

Don’t Slip

It is easy to not imagine falling at home, until someone you care about actually falls. It is hard to predict what injury can occur when this happens. They aren’t always minor if someone falls just right. With some home improvement safety tips, you can find inexpensive and easy ways to help prevent a slip and fall from happening at home. Keep a few things in mind such as lighting, handrails, floors, stairs, and reducing clutter. That way, you’ll have a good start in making a list of how you can help prevent trips, slips, and falls.

Here are some top tips to reduce slips and falls, both indoors and outdoors.

From The Outside In

A good place to start when checking out your house for possible falling hazards, is on the outside, then work your way in. Uneven pavement, patio bricks, and steps that are falling apart, are great traps for someone to trip and fall. t may be necessary to call in a professional to repair those types of hazards.

How does your garage floor look? If it is squeaky clean, it might also be super slippery. We bring a lot of dirt and moisture onto our garage floors. It is impossible not to. That moisture can cause us to easily lose our footing when walking into the house with bags of groceries. Epoxy flooring coatings are created to not only make our garage floor look nicer than plain old concrete, but they also have texture that can be added to make the floor have more of a grip and less slip. This is a project that can usually be done on your own with proper equipment and ventilation, and of course when carefully following instructions.

Floors, Stairs, and Railings

Where your feet go, so do the falls. If your feet are moving through your house, they are most likely to be the fault of your sudden accidental trip and fall scene. However if you prepare your home properly by following some home improvement safety tips, you can lessen that chance. Floors and stairs need a safe path for your feet.

Rugs are pretty, comforting, and can warm up a room nicely…but some are slippery, and an accident waiting to happen. If you have a rug that seems to always have to be put back into place, you may need to invest in some inexpensive no-slip padding to place underneath the rug. It helps hold the rug in one place and therefore makes it less of a possible tripping hazard. Rugs can be very helpful as long as they sit still. They can make a floor less slippery if laid down properly.

As you are checking out your floors, making sure slippery spots are taken care of, and rugs are in place, don’t forget to head up the stairs. Stairs are most likely wood, carpeted, or painted in your home. Uncarpeted wooden (or painted) stairs can definitely be slippery and pose a slipping threat. Just like the epoxy paint on garage floors, texture can be added to a paint used on stairs to decrease slipperiness. In reading home improvement safety tips, you may notice runners mentioned as an option in making your wooden or painted stairs safer. A runner can be a long rug like material made to fit your staircase and easily laid on it. Stair treads can also be purchased and placed on each step individually with an adhesive backing. This is a simple afternoon project. Even carpeted stairs can get slippery over time as the carpet flattens as wears out. Take a realistic, but safe walk up and down your stairs, and consider what you can do to improve the safety of them.

And speaking of stairs, nothing could be more helpful next to them, then a handrail. Adding a handrail is one of the easiest, yet very important home improvement safety tips, you can easily do yourself. If you are not comfortable, a handyman could do this quickly for you. Such a simple addition to your home will increase its safety factor greatly.

Maintain Your Home For Safety

Home maintenance can seem daunting at times. As you look around, there is a lot to maintain, and it can be difficult to prioritize. As you go over lists of home improvement safety tips, don’t forget the ones that aren’t so obvious, such as your HVAC system, and roof.

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It is never recommended that you climb on up and check out how well your roof is doing on your own unless you have the proper training and experience. In this case, you will need to forego your spirited DIY attitude and call in a professional roofer. It is pretty obvious, we can not tell what is going on with our roofs. They are, well…over our heads. But seriously, your roof is literally sheltering your home. It is so very important and needs to be maintained. It is recommended by roofing professionals to have your roof inspected twice a year, spring and fall, before the harsher weather hits. As with many areas of our homes, it is best to maintain the roof and fix small problems, rather than ignoring it and allowing greater damage to happen. Keep your home safe by taking care of its cover — the roof.

There is an unseen area of your home keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It is easy to forget about it as it just keeps chugging along…until it stops working. We notice quickly on a hot summer day or a freezing winter evening if our HVAC system has given up. Not only is regular maintenance absolutely necessary to avoid expensive A/C and furnace repair, but also to keep your home safe. The system is being run by either electric or gas, and constantly recycling air in your home. That all needs attention twice a year, to make sure everything is firing safely. You should have a regular schedule in spring and fall, with your HVAC system repair professional, to keep your heat and air running safely and smoothly.

Also, when your HVAC is being serviced twice a year, use those times as a reminder to pull your dryer out and check the hose and vent for lint and debris. The hose should be replaced annually and the vent can be vacuumed out. Dryer lint build-up can cause house fires, but is easily forgotten about.

Pesky Pests

Bugs around our house are more than a nuisance. They can be a safety hazard and should be added to your home improvement safety tips. There are some at-home sprays that can be purchased to get rid of annoying insects and spiders, but an exterminator is a better guarantee to make sure they do not come back. Some bugs and spiders bite and can even cause allergic reactions. They do not belong in your safe home.

Don’t Mess with Electrical and Gas

As you decide which home improvement safety tips are necessary for your home, please leave any electrical changes to an electrical installation service. Electricity can be very dangerous, and not a great option for DIY home improvement projects unless you are an electrician. As time goes by in your home, you may need to replace light fixtures, or an outlet or two may stop working. Those are just examples of two possible scenarios that require electrical wiring. Both may need to be fixed for safety’s sake, and both require a professional. The same goes for gas. Call the gas company with concerns, and allow a service person to install any of your gas run appliances.

Get the Lead Out

If you live in a home built before 1978, there is a good chance lead paint was used when the home was newly built. You probably had a home inspection at some point and took care of it. But, if you have been in the home since before 1978 or you know for a fact it has never been taken care of, it is time to get the lead out. That lead paint needs to be covered with a special encapsulating paint, or removed completely by a professional. Chipping and flaking off the old stuff needs to be avoided. As we know, children may ingest the paint chips and that is not healthy or safe. You also don’t want the dust from lead paint circulating in your home.

Home Improvement Safety Tips Cost Money

Nothing is free, home improvement included. Some safety improvements will be at a minimal cost due to inexpensive materials, and the possibility of doing it yourself and avoiding labor costs. If you are taking on an unavoidable project, and just don’t have the money, you may want to see if you qualify for a home equity loan, which can often be easily rolled into most conventional home loans. You’ll need to speak with a lender to see if you qualify.

If a loan is not your thing, and you prefer no debt, then try checking off the list a little at a time, as you save to afford each project. Be patient and you will get there eventually.

Protection Through Home Insurance Companies

Your home needs to be insured. If that isn’t on your list of home improvement safety tips, please add it. When it comes to safety, this is one of the first things you can do to protect your home and family. If something in your home is damaged or becomes unsafe due to matters out of your own hands, your home insurance may cover some or all of the cost. There are sometimes issues with insurance and dealing with receiving payments on time. If this happens, contact a property insurance attorney to help you get what is owed to you. Most insurance companies are very helpful and are there to serve you.

Enjoy making your list of home improvement safety tips, and gathering information from others. As you improve your home with more safety features, you will have a feeling of satisfaction, knowing you can rest easy, as you come home each day to your safe and welcoming home. Just being aware, and taking your time to get each step done, will have your home safe in no time.

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The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has swept the world since it was first seen in Wuhan, China back in November, 2019. The virus is reported to have been a product of wet markets in Wuhan, and is a new strain of a previously known coronavirus. This new, highly contagious strain of virus is said to have crossed from animals into humans, and little is still known about the virus and the full extent of its effect on humans. What is known is that this new strain attacks the respiratory system, and causes death in primarily the elderly, but also even in healthy adult populations and children.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a dry cough, fever, trouble breathing, and even more recently, lack of blood flow to body parts such as toes.

Is COVID-19 in Detroit?

COVID-19 has since infected hundreds of thousands of people in China, Korea, Italy, and the United States. Those living in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have been hit hard. Unfortunately, one of the most affected places in Michigan has been the city of Detroit.

Currently, the population of the city of Detroit is almost 670,000. Of those living in Detroit, 9,566 have been infected with COVID-19, according to the Michigan government website. Sadly, 1,147 deaths have also been reported since early May. This growing number of cases and fatalities has led more and more people to become more aware of their health. It has also caused cities to shut down businesses, schools, and parks in order to prevent the spread of the contagious virus.

Staying healthy in Detroit

It’s important now, more than ever, to realize that your best defense against the virus is not just social distancing, but also having a healthy immune system and body that can fight back against infections. It’s important to develop new health, fitness, and diet plans to maximize your body’s ability to recover from such a virus.

In addition, caring for your mental health during these times of isolation, and seeking resources for help during the pandemic are all important. Detroit community health centers are still open and ready to treat those infected by COVID-19, as well as give free resources for mental health among others. Here are 10 tips to follow if you are living in Detroit, need assistance for COVID-19, and are looking for Detroit community health centers and programs to help you and your loved ones battle the pandemic.

1. Know where to seek help

Various programs, such as Detroit Community Health Connection, the Michigan Department of Health, and HUDA are all great sources to seek information for various hospitals and resources. However, during these times, it’s important to know what level of care to seek beforehand. It has been widely recommended by the CDC that if one has symptoms of COVID-19, to not seek emergency care or urgent care unless symptoms are life-threatening. This prevents the overcrowding of hospitals and lab equipment for patients with mild illnesses, and reduces the risk of exposure to the virus.

Make sure to call ahead before you make an appointment with your primary care provider to get properly tested. It’s always a good idea to check in with your primary service provider, and let them know as well if you’ve been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Your doctor can set up an appointment for you to be tested, and in the meantime give recommendations on whether or not to quarantine, take over-the-counter medications, and other self-care advice. Always remember, if you have life-threatening symptoms and cannot wait to be seen by your PCP, seek emergency help right away.

2. Choose healthy, affordable options for food

One of the biggest struggles Detroit faces with COVID-19 is how the virus affects those communities that are poverty-stricken, according to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Detroit’s former executive director of the Detroit Health Department. Detroit is one of the most poverty-stricken cities in America and felt the brunt of the great recession in 2008.

But being in Detroit is not an automatic death sentence simply because one is living in low-wage conditions. Healthier foods such as microgreens like wheatgrass, root vegetables, organic foods, and foods that can help fight diabetes and obesity can easily be incorporated into any diet on a budget.

Choosing fruit instead of fried foods for snacks, swapping water or sugar-free tea for soda, and a myriad of other common sense, cheap tricks can help someone trying to be healthier on a budget. This is extremely important, as poverty and low-wage have been linked to increases in obesity and diabetes. Sadly, obesity has been seen to worsen the effects of COVID-19. Now, more than ever, it’s important to start eating healthier.

3. Choose affordable medical plans

Detroit has some of the best hospitals in Michigan, including DMC Harper University Hospital, coming in at the fifth-best hospital in Michigan as reported by Patch. For Detroit residents, looking at programs offered by various Detroit community health centers, making time to compare medicare advantage plans, and ensuring your employer has the benefits to support you in case you fall ill can all contribute to better health. In these times of COVID-19, sick time up to 80 hours (two weeks) is now guaranteed by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Still, it’s important to have backup plans, reserves, and know what to do if you or a loved one has to be off work, hospitalized, or quarantined for an extended period of time.

4. Social distance as much as possible

Though Detroit is much smaller than cities like New York and Los Angeles, it is still abiding by stay-at-home orders issued by Mayor Mike Duggan after being one of the hardest-hit cities in Michigan. Luckily, numbers have shown just how successful social distancing in Detroit has been, as Duggan said Wednesday, May 6, that the weekly rate of deaths dropped over the past month.

As much as we would like to visit family or loved ones, some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19 is the elderly population. Visiting family at Detroit community health centers such as assisted living homes is virtually impossible right now, unless to provide elderly care as a CNA or other caregiver. Some families are resorting to greeting each other through windows, or simply through Facetime or phone calls. It’s important to not expose loved ones to the virus, and maintain appropriate isolation protocols.

5. Keep up with mental health

Because of the quarantine and isolation that we must experience during the pandemic, prioritizing mental health care is just as important as prioritizing physical health. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all have serious negative effects on the physical body. Detroit community health centers are available not only for urgent and emergency care, but also to provide mental health care. The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, HUDA clinic, and other Detroit Community Health centers are all great starting places for those seeking help to maintain stress-free.

6. Keep up with regular health appointments if necessary

Detroit’s TCF field hospital finally closed May 7 after opening up extra beds in preparation for a surge of COVID-19 patients. Still, Detroit is not in the clear as is the rest of America. A resurgence of the virus could occur later on in the year in the winter, and until there is a vaccine available, it’s important for residents to not clog the already struggling healthcare system.

Make sure you are doing your best in keeping up with your care, and avoiding future trips to the hospital. Though many elective surgeries are now being put on hold, as your doctor for the best advice on keeping up with your personal health. For example, if you have an appointment with the oral surgeon for an abscessed tooth, and have been assured proper protection will be provided and the surgery is not elective, don’t wait until your tooth is rotten with an infection and take up a valuable bed in the emergency room. Now, more than ever, everyone must to their part in staying healthy.

7. Get regular exercise

Though stay-at-home orders have prevented large gatherings over 10 people, have closed down Detroit community health gyms and the YMCA, and even parks and beaches in some states, exercise is still very much doable. Exercise can help your body fight diabetes, obesity, and strengthen your natural immunity. Taking a walk around your neighborhood, or even searching low-impact, apartment-friendly exercise videos on Youtube can all help in getting you moving towards a better, stronger you. Some Detroit community health centers can also provide you with nutritionists, exercise, and best-practice tips during the pandemic.

Keep in mind, however, that some exercises done indoors might require more flexibility due to tight spaces. Visit your primary care provider, chiropractor, or a medical health professional to ensure your body is fit enough to start an exercise routine if you feel it is safe to do so.

8. Stay up-to-date on News

Though some states like Georgia, Texas, and now California have phases and a plan to reopen, Michigan and Detroit have their own plans to reopen. Duggan said that some 200 city workers will be returning to work to maintain parks on April 28, and so a re-opening of the city might be sooner than expected. However, things will remain different, with masks, frequent hand-washing, and social distancing still in effect. It’s important to check for updates on the status of your city, and abide by those rules in order to continue slowing the spread of COVID-19.

9. Stay focused on womens health

Unfortunately, the shutdown and isolating at home is proving to be more difficult for some more than others. Pregnant women are now suffering from effects of the coronavirus, as some are missing essential obstetrics procedures and must risk their lives entering hospitals to give birth. Womens health is truly more important than ever in the time of COVID-19. Detroit community health center Wayne State University is among many other health centers still focusing on giving women the help they need during COVID-19 by offering pregnant women resources. If you, or someone you know is pregnant, and currently worrying about their health and that of their baby, worried they do not have a partner to help, or anything else, make sure to follow-up with them and seek as many resources as possible during these times.

10. Stay as positive as possible

COVID-19 was an unexpected pandemic, and no one could have predicted that it would affect the world as much as it did. Shutdowns, loss of businesses, bankruptcy, and infection and death rates are just some of the drastic effects the virus has had on residents of Detroit. However, as mentioned before, numbers seem to be going down, and the curve continues to flatten, showing hope that the virus is on its way out. Every day we grow closer to having a vaccine, and freeing up space in hospitals to treat those who desperately need it.

In addition, most people who have COVID-19 will only have a mild case of the virus, and thus need only follow proper at-home care while the virus runs its course. Though there are many aspects of the virus we cannot control, what we can do is stay positive, abide by social distancing and sanitation guidelines, and remember that this too shall pass.

Moving from COVID-19

Detroit community health centers continue to provide care for those infected with the virus, and those that want to seek help for mental health issues that are arising with the pandemic. It’s important to monitor oneself for symptoms, try your best to stay healthy, and remain optimistic about COVID-19. If you want a sign that Detroit is getting better, just look at one of Detroit’s most powerful symbols of strength and prosperity: its automotive industry.

United Auto Workers are on board with Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley to start reopening auto plants as early as May 18. Though the stay-at-home orders in Detroit are in effect until May 15, the flattening of the curve has given the auto industry hope that it can open just a couple days after the stay-at-home orders lift. Detroit is known for being a strong, bustling center of auto innovation and manufacturing, filled with strong people, and the UAW returning to work should, if anything, show a glimmer of hope, normality, and healing.

Wastewater treatment plants are relied upon by around 80% of the U.S. population, yet few people understand just how important they are. Wastewater must be effectively treated and “cleaned” before it can be re-released into the environment, mostly through aeration (of which 25% to 60% of the facility’s energy goes toward); if chemical contaminants and bacteria are not eradicated from the wastewater, they will continue to leech into the groundwater. Eventually, they will find their way back into our bodies via our food and drinking water.

Multiple states face a problem from the latter. Michigan and Minnesota have detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their municipal wastewater systems, leading others in the region to pay more attention to sources and spreads of contamination. Wisconsin has recently discovered that drinking water and groundwater across the state have been affected by PFAS, and the Badger State is jumping into action; the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in the process of initiating a new voluntary PFAS testing program.

The DNR is planning to begin sampling and analyzing water flowing into and out of 125 municipal wastewater treatment facilities as they look for PFAS compounds. The goal is to discover how and where these contaminants are entering the air, land, and waters of the state before making their way into public and private drinking water.

PFAS are found in a wide variety of consumer products (such as food packaging, fire extinguisher foam, and products containing Teflon), making the act of narrowing down a source much more difficult. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to reproductive, developmental, liver, kidney, and immunological effects, including cancer. These contaminants can enter our farm fields via land spreading and our groundwater through surface water discharges; from there, the trip to our drinking water is quite short.

“No one should ever be afraid to turn on their tap. Clean drinking water is a public health priority,” said DNR Secretary-designee Preston Cole. “Water is life-giving. We have an opportunity with this initiative to take a large step forward in protecting our citizens and our natural resources from harmful contaminants.”

Many industries employ sensors as a way of keeping tabs on dangerous situations. For example, load cell and torque sensor units measure certain kinds of force (and they’re able to operate in a temperature range of -452 degrees F to 450 degrees F, boosting their versatility). Although PFAS sensors and monitoring systems don’t exist yet, they could present as a viable solution if levels across the nation continue to increase.

Wisconsin has set a cumulative groundwater enforcement standard of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, two PFAS compounds. Hopefully, the Badger State will be able to identify and eliminate the risk of PFAS drinking water contamination as a result of their efforts.

The sun, the fresh air, and the quality time spent together with your family makes camping one of the most enjoyable parts of the summer. For one family, however, their dream vacation turned into a nightmare when their two-year-old toddler went missing.

The Vitale family was packing up their Northern Michigan campsite on campsite off Reber Road when they realized their two-year-old daughter Gabriella was missing. A search was launched at 8:15 AM when the family realized their daughter wasn’t responding to their calls. Countless police officers, a group of 10 canines, family members, and fellow campers began searching for the missing tot all day and before extending the search throughout the night.

“The roadway that this campsite is on is a very rural dirt road. The campsite is just a clearing in the woods — this isn’t, if you’re picturing a commercial campsite with lots of campers and tents, that’s not the case. This is just a clearing in the woods where this particular family was camping with just family members,” explains Lt. Travis House of the Michigan State Police. “They lost track of her, sounds like for a relatively thorough period of time, and by the time they started to look for her, she was beyond their sight.”

The area is densely forested and also contains a number of lowlands and swamps. Additionally, good nutrition is vital for a child’s growth and health during the first two years. Though the police were able to find Gabriella’s pink jacket outside of the campsite several hundred yards away, there was still no clue where the girl had run off to.

Almost 27 hours later, just before noon the next day, Gabriella was found. She had wandered to a cabin around a half-mile away, just on the outskirts of the search party. Here, the residents of the cabin were able to call the police — and the relieved family of the missing girl.

Gabriella was then rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment. Poison ivy is present in 48 states, but first responders noted that Gabriella was in surprisingly good shape despite no food or water for 24 hours. Additionally, the dense forest cover likely protected Gabriella from sunburn. After all, deciduous trees can block 60% of the sun’s harmful rays. Regardless, the toddler was still brought to the hospital for urgent medical attention.

The family has since released a statement regarding the safety of Gabriella and their gratitude toward the responders.

“We would like to express our thanks to God for keeping our sweet Gabriella safe,” said Alyssa Bijarro, Gabriella’s mother. “Thank you to the countless public safety officers, first responders, and those that helped locate our girl. We are forever grateful to the Fairview Community, especially the local, state and DNR officers. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we hold Gabriella in our arms.”