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ALBANY, GA. -- 150,000 Americans die every year from accidents that occur inside the home and 30 million are seriously injured. Now, local health officials are spreading the word about household safety.Dr. Jacqueline Grant of Southwest Georgia Public Health says household safety is no accident. "A lot of it is common sense things but I think we just get kind of immune to our environment and don’t really look for things that could be potential hazards," said Grant. 

Preventable injuries rank among the top ten causes of death in the U.S. but following a few simple safety steps can go a long way in protecting yourself and your family.

Fire is always a top concern.

"Cooking is the number one cause of a fire so you want to make sure you don’t leave any food unattended," said Assistant Fire Prevention Chief Cebon Burns.

Turn pot and pan handles inward to avoid spills and burns and make sure your fire extinguishers are accessible and ready.

"Make sure your smoke detector is working, make sure you have an evacuation plan," said Grant.

The kitchen is also a source for many potential poisons so make sure all cleaning products are securely stored and that medication caps are tight. "Some of the common medicines look exactly like candy," said Grant.

This is especially important since many medications are available to seniors without the hard-to-open tops. "If you’re taking children to grandparents, making sure those medications that they don’t normally have to worry about, that they’re out of sight," said Grant.

One of the main sources of household injuries is one that most people probably don’t think about – the dishwasher. Always make sure the dishwasher is closed. That way, if someone happens to slip and fall in the kitchen, they won’t land on a knife or other sharp utensil.

"Making sure you’ve got non-slip mats, especially if you’re an elderly person, your surfaces on your floors are even, your lighting is good," added Grant.