Most accidents do occur at home, so a tour through your house and yard is a good way to help some injuries from happening in the first place.  Staircases are responsible for a good many falls each year.  If the stairs are cluttered with backpacks, books, or clothing, it will be much more likely that someone will trip.  Bare stairs are slippery and stairways should be carpeted to provide for better traction.  Be sure, however, that the carpeting is firmly attached to the stairs.

Small children are at risk nearly anywhere in the house; their curiosity can easily get them into trouble.  As far as stairs go, a gate at the bottom of the stairs, at the very least, will keep a toddler from climbing up unattended.  Never, ever, let any child use the stairs for play.

Make sure that you secure all electrical outlets with plug covers, which are an inexpensive way to prevent electrocution.  All cabinets within the reach of a child should be fitted with latches that will only allow adults and older children to access the contents.  Most under-sink cabinets hold a witch’s brew of cleaning products, solvents, and insecticides.

Do not neglect to look over your yard, either.  A swimming pool should have a secure fence around it that should be kept locked when the pool is not in use.  Any holes in the yard should be filled in to prevent twisted ankles or falls.  Make sure that the plants in the yard are non-poisonous if young children are in the household.  Some of the most poisonous ornamental plants are azaleas, bleeding heart, and lily of the valley.

One of the best ways to assure that you will be competent to handle most first aid problems is by having a first aid kit on hand.  While it is possible to assemble the items yourself, it will be much easier and quicker to purchase a quality premade kit.  The contents of these kits are based on the recommendations of medical professionals and will give you not only the necessary materials, but also the confidence, to deal with first aid issues as they arise.  

Your first aid kit supplies should always be kept together in one spot, and a premade kit that comes in a backpack is one of the easiest ways to do this.  These kits are available in a number of sizes, but as with most things, get the best and most thoroughly equipped kit that you can afford.  The first aid kit should be kept in a place that will be easily accessible when needed, but out of the reach of very young children.  Be sure to add prescription medication to the kit should anyone in the family suffer from a chronic condition.  Equip your vehicles with first aid kits, as well, although these need not be as elaborate as the kit kept in the home.

Most kits come with an instruction manual that will help you to deal with most first aid situations.  Be sure that you read the manual before you need to use it.  It would also be intelligent to purchase at least one more first aid book to supplement your kit’s manual.  If you have infants or very young children in the house, a book geared to handling first aid emergencies for this age group is also a valuable addition to your library.  Once again, familiarize yourself with the books so you will be able to apply the necessary first aid quickly.  First aid books are not only valuable in helping you to deal with injuries, but also in understanding how to recognize injuries that are beyond the scope of simple first aid.