The stairs are by definition dangerous for children and seniors. Nearly fifteen percent of all accidents in and around the home occur there. Stairs, corridors and landings are sometimes not well lit or provided with indirect light, causing people to walk in their own shadow with all the associated risks. Toddlers up to the age of two are a danger to themselves on a fixed staircase due to their unstoppable entrepreneurial drive. For the safety of these young children, it is important for parents/guardians to take a number of tips seriously, such as installing stair gates. Only allow toddlers to go up and down the stairs unaccompanied when their coordination skills have been sufficiently developed.
Contents
- Simple safety measures for seniors
- Child-safe stairs, corridors and landings
- Steep, slippery stairs?
- No toys, books and other items on the steps
- Good lighting in the stairwell and on the landing
Simple safety measures for seniors
Slip-resistant stair coverings, handrails on both sides of the stairs and good lighting with light switches that are easily accessible. Know that dim stairs are often the cause of falls. The above measures are as simple as they are effective. Living independently for as long as possible is the wish of virtually all elderly people, regardless of whether the choice to continue living in their own familiar home has been consciously made or whether it is purely necessary for numerous reasons. In the latter case, investing in the home in a timely manner can provide a solution.
Source: MarjaBrouwer, Pixabay
Stair lift
Renovate the home adequately so that you can continue to live comfortably in old age. In the case of the stairs, it is important to change the stairs in such a way that they are suitable for installing a stair lift . Many seniors rely on the municipal Wmo (Social Support Act), intended to allow elderly people with physical disabilities to live at home for longer and to support them financially.
Child-safe stairs, corridors and landings
Toddlers and toddlers are always exploring. In addition to general measures in the living room, kitchen and bathroom, it is important to view the stairs from the perspective of the young child for safety in the home. What dangers can the stairs pose? The gaps between the steps of this ‘high climbing apparatus’ may be too large and therefore unsafe. After all, toddlers can stick their heads in and get stuck.
Hazards
There have been cases of toddlers crawling through these openings and then falling down. So make the house childproof, although it must be realized that not everything can be prevented. Very young children do not know the dangers (yet), for them everything is a game.
Steep, slippery stairs?
Slippery, steep stairs are basically dangerous . Every year, many toddlers are admitted to hospital with head, neck and neck injuries, partly as a result of slippery stairs. Set a good example for the child by always holding on to the banister with one hand.
- Install child-resistant gates at the bottom and top of the stairs (no concertina gate). The height of such a gate should be 75 centimeters and the distance between the vertical (!) bars less than 6.5 centimeters. Toddlers and toddlers whose coordination skills are not yet sufficiently developed are not allowed to go up and down the stairs without supervision.
- Teach your child to climb stairs as early as possible. Practice it together. In this way, the child learns to always hold on to the banister with one hand while going up the wide side of the stairs.
- If necessary, install the child’s own (low) banister at a height of approximately 50 to 60 centimeters.
- Ask for advice about installing an extra stair railing for seniors. There are many important factors that determine the correct placement of these handrails, such as the height, which depends on body size.
- Never allow a young child to walk up and down the stairs with a toy in their hands. Of course, a hug cannot be avoided.
- Are the stairs perhaps too steep and therefore dangerous? Does the staircase contain quarter turns? The steps may be too high for seniors.
- Is the staircase equipped for a stair lift (in the future)?
- Always walk up and down the stairs calmly… never rush! This applies to all age groups.
Source: Abegum, Flickr (CC BY-2.0)
No toys, books and other items on the steps
The staircase as ‘storage space’ in combination with a dim staircase is extremely dangerous. This also applies to a loose or worn stair runner and many other things.
- Don’t leave anything on the sides of the steps. Not even for a while with the intention of bringing the things upstairs later. For example, anyone who steps on a book will almost certainly fall down the stairs.
- Never place a glass door at the bottom of the stairs. Someone could slide down the stairs, fall through the glass and suffer serious cuts.
- Are the steps sufficiently stiff? But be careful, because too stiff can also be dangerous. Provide a non-slip stair covering. Never walk in socks or slippery slippers on uncarpeted or smoothly painted stairs. Choose non-slip paint or short-pile floor coverings. Slipping is always a major risk.
- Renew stair runners regularly and check them for wear.
- Be careful of height differences between the stair steps, especially the first or last step compared to the hallway or landing floor. This problem is often forgotten during renovations, where height differences can arise when raising one or more floors.
Good lighting in the stairwell and on the landing
Especially for seniors , the light switches on the stairs must be easily accessible and equipped with a changeover switch, with which the light can be switched on and off both above and below.
- Is the lighting on the stairs, landing and in the hallway adequate? Avoid a dim stairwell. This creates downright dangerous situations for the elderly.
- Make sure you never walk in your own shadow. The lighting is then not placed properly.
- Long skirts or dressing gowns down to the feet are a risk factor. Then walk extra carefully up and down the stairs.
- Always hold on to the handrail with one hand. Teach this to your children as early as possible.
- Always walk backwards down the stairs in front of the young child.
- Do not let children play on the stairs. Not even on the lowest steps. Point out the dangers to them.
read more
- Safe living for children and the elderly – living room
- Safe living for children and the elderly – kitchen
- Safe living for children and the elderly – bathroom and toilet
- Safe living for children and the elderly – bedroom and attic
- Safe use of electricity and first aid for electrocution
