Accidents around the home are one of the leading causes of death in the United States for people under the age of forty. Many of the victims are children, and the deaths are caused by things that were completely preventable, if the homeowner took the initiative to make some very simple upgrades to the home. These are three of the most important changes that you can make to your home to make it safer and reduce the risk of serious injury or death.

Snow Guards

When snow falls on the roof it begins to pack and the longer it stays on the roof, the more dangerous the snow becomes. Once the temperature starts to rise, the snow will get loose and begin sliding off of the roof towards the ground. If you have a metal roof, the danger is magnified even more, since the lack of friction increases the speed at which the snow slides. A snow guard from a company like Sno Shield will help to break up the largest pieces of snow and keep them from all falling at the same time, which will reduce the risk of serious head injury or death to people walking near the eaves of the home.

New Smoke Alarms

The only time you really think about your fire alarm is probably when it starts to beep while you are in the middle of cooking dinner, or when the battery starts to get low. Most homes have smoke alarms that are extremely old and the technology is out dated. New designs incorporate the best features of traditional alarms and add new things like air sampling and carbon monoxide/dioxide detection. A new model smoke alarm is much more sensitive than one more than five years old, and they can provide a crucial early warning in the event of a home fire.

Gas Line Inspections

Finally, your home’s gas line connections can start to get weak and will eventually need to be tightened or repaired. The failure to do so can cause leaks in the gas lines that will contribute to the buildup of deadly gas in your home. The gas is a danger because of the risk of asphyxiation or because of the potential explosive hazard, and annual inspections will ensure that there are no small problems that will grow into larger issues.

These small upgrades to your home can help to save a life and make you feel safer. None of these things cost a lot of money, so there is no reason not to get started on them right away.