Top Ten Stairway Safety Tips

1.) Try to keep your stairway clear of hazardous objects that could be tripped over. It's easy to trip over objects on the stairs, especially for an elderly person. You could of course avoid this nuisance entirely by purchasing a stairlift.

2.) When buying a house or re-doing the stairs, try to avoid lipped stairways. A lipped stairway (or one with a gap underneath each step) is likely to cause falls and bumps. A stairlift can be used to circumvent this problem if you already have lipped stairs. This may be a very good idea if you have an elderly relative who owns a property with a lipped stairway.

3.) Don't wax your stairs. You might have a lovely waxed floor, but to wax your stairs is an awful idea! It's easy enough to slip on the stairs without waxing them - so don't make the situation any worse. In fact, you may wish not to wax the area of flooring directly at the end of your staircase either. Falling backwards onto a hardwood staircase can really hurt.

4.) If your stairs have already been waxed, get some stair treads. This is your final slippery staircase warning! If you don't want to cover your lovely stairway in non-skid tape, you could always purchase a stairlift.

5.) Secure stair carpeting. A covered staircase can be just as hazardous as a slippery one. Tack down elements of carpet which have come loose and could slide or snag on a foot. If an elderly relative has a problem with their carpeted stairway, it would be beneficial to purchase a stairlift for them. This is mainly due to the fact that tacked down carpet could come loose again at any time!

6.) Install two handrails on any stairway. You might think that to prevent a fall you would only need one handrail, however when two people pass on the stairs it's best to make sure they both have something to hold onto. On a curved stairway, it may be more appropriate to have one handrail (outer) and one of the many available curved stairlifts attached to the wall. This is because curved stairways are often broader, allowing for someone to pass a stairlift upon its descent.

7.) Avoid rugs on or around stairways. A rug on the stairs will obviously cause problems, but also consider the rug at the bottom of your stairs. You may wish to remove this for the same reason you may wish not to wax the area at the foot of your stairs; falling back onto stairs is painful.

8.) Make sure your stairway is well lit. This is especially true where the elderly (who may not be able to see as well) are concerned. If you are worried that your elderly relative may trip upon stair clutter, purchase a stairlift so that they will not have to face stairway hazards.

9.) Check the railing situated upon the landings. These railings stop toys and visitors from taking a tumble, so if you feel the railings are too widely space there is a genuine cause for concern. Look into tighter fitting landing railings if you feel your current railings are unsafe.

10.) Place safety gates at the top of your stairs if you are taking care of a small child. Ensure that the safety gates are strong enough to resist a toddler pushing them and tall enough to stop a child from climbing over.