Home Safety & When to Call for Help

Coach Katie

Most home emergencies are prevented, not treated. Walk the home like a safety inspector once — fix the easy things — and you've done more than any single skill. Here's the room-by-room sweep.

Room-by-room sweep

Make the home safe

🚶 Walkways & floors

Clear cords, clutter, and loose rugs (a top fall cause).
Light the path to the bathroom — night-lights.
Wipe spills right away.

🛁 Bathroom

Grab bars by toilet and tub; non-slip mat.
Set water heater ≤120°F to prevent scald burns.
Raised seat / shower chair if transfers are hard.

💊 Medicines

One current list; keep meds in their labeled bottles.
Lock up anything dangerous; check expiration.
Never double a missed dose without asking the clinic.

🔥 Fire & alarms

Working smoke + carbon-monoxide alarms; test monthly.
Never leave cooking or oxygen near an open flame.
Know two ways out.

🦠 Infection basics

Wash hands before/after care; gloves for body fluids.
Own towel, cup, razor — don't share.
Clean high-touch surfaces.

📋 Ready info

Post: emergency numbers, the med list, allergies, and the person's diagnoses.
Know their normal — usual pulse, breathing, alertness.
Keep the clinic/agency number by the phone.

The one-page fridge sheet: emergency contacts, current meds, allergies, diagnoses, and "their normal." First responders and covering caregivers will thank you.

Coach Katie

The hardest caregiver question is "is this a 911, or a call-the-clinic?" When in doubt about breathing, chest pain, a possible stroke, or someone you can't wake — call 911. Here's the split.

The split

911 now vs. call the clinic / agency

🚨 Call 911 now

Trouble breathing / can't catch breath
Chest pain or pressure (help them chew aspirin only if a clinician has told them to)
Stroke signs — F.A.S.T.: Face droop, Arm weakness, Speech trouble → Time to call
Can't wake them / unresponsive / a seizure
Heavy bleeding that won't stop, or a bad fall with a possible broken bone or head hit
Blue lips, choking, or a suspected overdose (give naloxone if available)

📞 Call the clinic / agency (same day)

New or worse swelling, or a heart-failure weight jump (~3 lb in a day / 5 lb in a week)
Fever, new cough, or signs of infection
Blood sugar trending high or repeated lows
New confusion that isn't an emergency, or a medicine question
A pressure sore, a fall with no injury, or poor eating/drinking
Anything that's "not their normal" but they're stable

Golden rule: a device or a number never overrides how the person looks. If they look sick, act sick, or you can't wake them — 911 wins the tie. You can always call the clinic afterward.

Every time you call, have ready: what changed and when, their meds & allergies, their diagnoses, and their vital signs if you have them. That's your fridge sheet doing its job.

Coach Katie

Five quick calls. 75% to earn the Home Safety stamp.

Home Safety & When to Call for Help

Make the home safe

911 now vs. call the clinic / agency

Pass it on