It can sometimes be difficult to remember all the little things we should be doing to keep our families safe. If there are children in your family, this is something you have often thought about. Luckily there are a lot of observances during the year that remind us to take time out from our busy lives and think about safety. One example is that June is Home Safety Month. Parents especially should take a look at our list of top 5 hidden dangers in the home, and our solutions to some of these hazards.

Invisible and deadly, carbon monoxide is the silent killer. It is invisible and has no odour, and it is actually the leading cause of accidental poisonings. It’s produced by improperly working appliances, fireplaces, and it can even seep into the house from a running car in the garage.

The only real way to protect you and your family from this danger is to get a carbon monoxide alarm. These should be installed on every level of the home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. The fire department nearest you should be able to give you advice on where to place the carbon monoxide detectors in your home according to state law. And be sure to have your appliances checked regularly.

It’s crucial that you have fire extinguishers. Fires in the home are most often caused by cooking unattended, so don’t leave food on the stove and walk away, always keep an eye on the oven when using it, and be sure that there is nothing near the range that could cause a fire.

Cracks in your foundation may seem harmless, but they could lead to deaths in the home. If you’re like many homeowners, you’re probably unfamiliar with radon: the second leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). This odourless, radioactive gas can move up from the soil and enter the home through cracks in the foundation. Even if you don’t have a basement, radon can still enter your home through cracks around service pipes and construction joints.

Radon can be detected using a kit that can be purchased, as you won’t be able to smell or see this gas.

The speed that fires can spread in the home is very fast, and most people aren’t aware of this. If a smoke alarm is beeping, there can sometimes be only around 2 minutes to get your family together and exit the home before it spreads too far to exit safely. The smoke alarm will typically provide you with some time to escape, but you must also have a plan for your family to follow in such an emergency. Shockingly though, only 29 percent of families have ever practiced their fire escape plan, according to one of our recent surveys.

The chance of burglary is actually overlooked in many households. You might think it’ll never happen to you, but the reality is that a home is broken into every 14 seconds. There are basic ways to deter burglars from getting inside your home: install solid core entry doors with sturdy deadbolt locks; entries to the home should be well-lit; metal grates should be installed on the windows in the basement; and trim bushes so there are fewer places to hide. But you’ll enjoy extra piece of mind by storing your most valuable possessions in a safe.

We offer the only Saskatoon Home Insurance policy that can be truly tailored to your needs. Get a quote and buy a policy online or by phone. Or check out our Home Insurance video.