Home Safety Checks

Here are some simple yet important actions we can take to help keep our homes safe.

By Anne Fitzpatrick | Illustrations by Maya Nguyen

Life gets busy, homes get cluttered and it’s easy to fall behind on the small checks and changes that help keep the home a safe place to be. From smoke alarm maintenance, to properly using a generator, to what to pack in an emergency kit, here’s a collection of safety checks that will help prevent unsafe situations.

1. Exit Plan

Ensure all doors and windows open easily and are free from obstructions. Avoid using interior key-only locks.

Illustration: A dresser with open drawers that needs to be anchored to the floor.

2. Furniture Safety/Babyproofing

Health Canada recommends anchoring tall or top-heavy furniture to the wall using anti-tip straps or angle braces secured to wall studs or with anchors to prevent tipping injuries.

3. Space-Heater Safety

Keep space heaters at least one metre — in all directions — away from flammable items such as curtains and upholstery. Turn heaters off when you go to sleep or leave a room. The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) says never use an extension cord or power strip with a space heater. And never use space heaters in crowded spaces or leave them unattended.

Illustration: A space heater safely distanced from a curtain.

Illustration: An electrical outlet not overloaded.

4. Electrical Safety

Plug a maximum of one high-draw item (such as an air conditioner, toasters or UL-certified power strip) directly into each wall outlet, distributing the electrical load. Do not link power strips or extension cords together. Be careful not to overload electrical outlets.

5. Power-Generator Safety

Keep generators and propane heaters outdoors. According to the OFM, fuel-burning resources should stay outside, and not in enclosed spaces such as a garage or covered porch. And keep generators away from windows to ensure that exhaust fumes don’t enter the home.

Illustration: A power generator kept outside.

Illustration: A lock with an eye on it, representing a doorbell camera.

6. Front Door Security

When choosing a doorbell camera, make sure it uses encrypted data and video connections to safeguard privacy. Select a trusted, well-known brand for the best possible outcome — a doorbell for safety versus cost. A 2024 Consumer Reports investigation tested less expensive, off-brand doorbells and found that they posed security risks.

7. Emergency Kit

Organize an emergency kit. The Red Cross suggests it should include potable water in portable bottles; non-perishable food items (including baby formula and pet food, if needed); a can opener; flashlights; a radio; extra batteries; a cellphone and a travel charger. (A GaN [gallium nitride] travel charger can last up to 10 years.)

Include a first-aid kit with extra prescription medications, pain relief, bandages and antiseptics. Keep additional cash, along with copies of essential documents such as passports and insurance policies, in a waterproof pouch. A multi-purpose tool, such as a Swiss Army knife, can be helpful, and a whistle can be used to signal for help.

Illustration: A smoke alarm with a finger about to press it to test it.

8. Smoke/CO Alarm Testing

According to the Government of Ontario, it is recommended to press the test button on smoke and CO alarms monthly — and change batteries when low. Replace batteries if the automatic low-battery signal is heard. Do not remove the battery from a beeping fire alarm set off by smoke in the home.

9. Kitchen/Fire Safety

Remain in the kitchen while cooking and keep towels and plastics away from the stove. Have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen that is easily accessible and not expired. Be sure not to wear loose sleeves while cooking. Flowing fabrics can easily dip into a burner or catch an open flame. For more information on fire safety, see our Wise Words article.

Illustration: A woman cooking at a stove keeping a safe distance from the burner.