The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-11-01, Page 8THE WINCIMM A!!.WINCETIMES
Home safety for seniors
(NC)—The horne can be a dangerous
place. Next to accidents involving
motor vehicles, the greatest number of
fatal accidents in Canada each year
occur in the home.
Seniors are particularly at risk.
While accidents are the fourth major
cause of death for all Canadians, over
60 per cern of accident fatalities inv-
olve people over 75 years of age. Falls.
in particular, can have devastating
consequences. Although people over
65 make up only 12 per cent of the
country's population, seniors account
for nearly 86 per cent of fatalities caused
by accidental falls.
Look for products that meet
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
safety and performance standards
when purchasing electrical and
manual wheelchairs, electrical aids,
and elevating devices in homes and
buildings.
Here are some other home safety
tips for seniors, especially those with
disabilities.
• Use non -slip mats around surfaces
that can become wet and avoid scatter
rugs and highly polished floors. Fix -the
edges of carpets to the floor with carpet
tape or choose carpets secured by a
rubber backing or non-skid coating.
• Make sure there are handrails on
each side of the stairs and [nark the
edges of steps with paint or tape in
contrasting colors.
• Install adequate and glare -free
lighting, especially around stairways
and in hallways, and keep a nightlight
on in the hall and bathroom.
• Avoid falls from bed by ensuring
that lamps and switches are within
easy reach when you are lying down.
• Wear footwear with adequate
support and non -slip soles; discard
worn-out shoes and slippers. no matter
how comfortable they are.
• Keep steps and walkways clear of
ice and snow. If necessary, check
whether your municipality has a free
snow -cleaning service for seniors.
• Use electric kettles with an
automatic shutoff to prevent them from
boiling dry. If there is a risk of leaving
the stove on, consider the routine use of
microwave oven.
• Place a non -slip mat in the shower
and install grab bars for the bathtub.
Placing a portable bench in the shower
makes it possible to shower while
sitting down.
• A water temperature regulator is
recommended to prevent scalding.
es
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Cause
Many familiar things pollute
the air we breathe •
• aerosols
• air fresheners .
• asbestos
• automobile fumes
• automobile tires
• bacteria & virusus
• carpet fibres
• chemical cleaners
• cooking
• dry cleaned clothing
• dust & dust mites
• furnace combustion
• gases
• glue
• humidifier
• moth repellents
• paint
• paneling
• pesticides
• pets
• pgllen
• stored fuels
• tobacco & cigarette smoke
• unvented gas stove
• wood stove or fireplace
• wood oils
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Natural Gas: The "EnerSmart" Choice
The Home Improvement that Pays for Itself
By switching to natural gas, you can save on your energy costs
savings by c to 67% if you are using hinctricity
and up to 41% if you are using oil. Your energy
months to a few years. usually recover conversion costs within6
Take advantage of our Introductory Conversion Specials --
Hi -Efficiency Furnaces:
Mid -Efficiency Furnaces:
Fireplaces:
$350 off
$200 off
$200 off
Plus•..s.No Payments and No Interest Until May 1996
Some conditions apply. Speciate end when action crews leave to See your Local Union Gas Information store for details.
Union Gas
Energy For You
4
A9
Effect
Poor air quality can lead to
serious health concerns
• anaemia
• asbestosis
• asthma
• cancer
• cardiovascular stress
• coughing
• digestive problems
• dizziness
• dry, chapped or irritated skin
• emphysema .
• eye, nose & throat irritation
• fatigue
• headaches
• impaired vision
• impaired lung function
• impaired coordination
• influenza
• liver & kidney damage
• loss of bone calcium
• nose bleeds
• pneumonia
• rashes
• respiratory problems
• shortness of breath
• sinus congestion
NC
EnerGuide label
helps consumers to
comparison shop
INICt—Regulations which establish
minimum efficiency standards for a
wide range (I' energy -using equipment
came into effect on February 3, 1995.
Introduced under the federal
government's new Enerev Efficiency
Act, these standards will eliminate the
most inefficient products from the
Canadian marketplace.
Because they require that all major
household appliances display an
"EnerGuide" label. the new regulations
will help you 'to comparison shop for the
most energy-efficient models available
on the market. The EnerGuide label •
displays an easy -to -understand scale
which compares energy consumption
among models with common features.
So remember. before you buy that
hew appliance or room air conditioner,
check out the label. For more inTormation
on this important new program. call
1-800-387-2000 for a free EnerGuide
information kit. or write Energy
Publications. c/o Canada Communi-
cation Group. Ottawa. Ontario, K 1 A 0S9:
it'll help you to make informed. energy -
wise purchasing decisions.