Stay Safe this Spring

April 18, 2018

Now that spring has arrived, many of us will be thinking about freshening up our homes with a good spring clean. Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to be careful in their homes.

The Council would encourage its residents to consider how secure large pieces of furniture like bookcases, chest of drawers and wardrobes are before dusting or decluttering.If moving furniture to create more space then please ensure you secure it back in place to prevent it toppling onto a child who may try to climb it. Straps are available to secure items like bookcases, drawers and flat screen TVs.

Step ladders are frequently used when painting or wallpapering but should also be used when placing items into the loft or dusting the top of any tall furniture. You should always ensure that you stand on a stable platform to avoid falls; step ladders are more secure than using chairs!

When using cleaning chemicals around the home please follow the instructions carefully and make sure they are always out of the reach of children.When finished, please ensure they are all stored away out of reach of children in a high up locked cupboard along with all other ‘everyday use’ chemicals like bleach, disinfectants, dishwasher/washing machine liquitabs and powders.Keep chemicals in their original packaging to avoid accidental misuse and allow them to be easily identified and the correct safety advice and instructions always available.

Don’t forget the medicine drawer when spring cleaning – it is a good time to dispose of out of date medicines and prescriptions and also those that are no longer needed.These should be safely disposed of by taking them to your local pharmacy.

For more information on Home Safety please contact Environmental Health on 028 9250 9395 or email: env.health@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk

Spring cleaning can sometimes mean a clear out of clothes or furniture.These can be donated to a local charity shop, which can upcycle them and sell.Alternatively large items can be left at the Council’s Household Recycling Centres or collected by arrangement with the Council (limited to three bulky items).More information is available online at www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk