Beautiful, glorious summer – it’s a season that the vast majority of Canadians very much look forward to. Now that we’re officially a few weeks into this wondrous season, we imagine that you’ve been taking the opportunity to enjoy some of the warm and sunny weather that summer brings.
When summer arrives, more Canadians venture outside. This, of course, can lead to a lot of fun times – and accidents too. This is especially true for outdoor staircases. So what can we do to avoid such accidents?
Properly maintain your outdoor stairway.
Over the course of the winter and some of spring, it’s likely that the steps in front of your porch took a beating. Between the extreme temperatures and the wealth of precipitation, it’s possible your stairs may have endured some damage. Be sure to check for cracks, loose steps and debris. Repair any issues and remove any obstacles to ensure the safety of all who visit and/or leave your home.
“Steps and stairways need to be maintained on a regular basis in order to be effective,” insists Tanya of Coba Flooring, “These areas need to be kept clean, tidy and free of debris to avoid any accidents. There shouldn’t be any worn or loose nosing, because worn steps can cause trips.”
Hold on to the handrail.
We know. Outdoor handrails are dirtier than most. Because of their outside-of-the-home nature, you don’t exactly have the ability to clean and polish public handrails on a regular basis. No matter which staircase you are climbing up and down, be sure to think safety first. Hold the handrail and worry about the potential germs later. Carry some hand sanitizer on your person if you really need to. Just don’t neglect this very important safety feature!
“People have this habit of walking on the stairs without looking on their steps and holding on the handrail,” points out news, entertainment, travel and fashion website, NewzNext.com, “This is because they think they memorize stairs, wherever and whatever the design might be. People also tend to look only on the first step and the last few steps of the stairway. They don’t really pay attention to the stairs in-between. This is one of the reasons why they trip or slip.”
Consider placing coloured-strips on each step.
Do you live with an individual who has a vision impairment? If so, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure that loved one never misses a step – literally. Many stair manufacturing companies offer highly-visible strips that can be placed on steps. That way, stair climbers are better able to determine where to place their feet. The strips are great ways to prevent staircase accidents.
“The edge of each step must be visible, to determine where the foot will be placed on each step,” says Tanya, “This can be highlighted with a highly visible colour contrast on the edge of the step surface.”
Advantage Home Health Solutions’ porch lifts are the reliable and economical choices to achieve maximum safety on outdoor stairs. Especially, when a wheelchair ramp isn’t a practical choice, a porch lift can fill the void. For more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
