When we do home improvement projects, we are vulnerable to common injuries that most often happen to our fingers, feet, hands, and backs. While many of us can’t avoid doing some everyday maintenance and repairs, it’s essential to know the common injuries that could happen in our home.

Most of the time, we work alone doing these home repairs and maintenance, which can make us more vulnerable to injury. If possible ask a friend to assist you, or take extra time and precautions to ensure the task can be completed safely. 

A little more than half of all injuries involve our fingers, feet, and hands, with fingers making up about 26 percent.

The power saw is the top tool that is involved in finger injuries, which is responsible for over 4,000 amputations every year in the U.S. The most common type of injury is lacerations (to any body part), which account for 31.5 of all home improvement-related injuries. Millennials were more than twice as likely, over any other generation, to end up in the ER due to inappropriate use of handy knives and scissors.

Ladders are another top tool which cause a multitude of body injuries that likely happened from a fall, and most likely affect the lower torso, knees, ankles, head, and neck. Baby Boomers are more vulnerable and at risk for ladder-related injuries. According to a recent National Institute of Health (NIH) study, the combination of age and falling even from low heights, can make ladder injuries more severe for retirees than for younger people.

For you to take more precautions in your small house chores, it’s essential for you to know the common types of injuries in an apartment. By knowing these hazards, you’ll be able to avoid them.

Anyone is prone to injury, not just as a result of personal shortcomings but also sometimes due to another person's negligence. There should be a rule, followed by everyone, that a reasonable degree of care should be taken in everything they do. Following this rule, would help prevent injuries to many people.

Public places should appear to be correctly maintained to make it safe for everyone. Everyone should also be careful at home to make sure there are no wet spills on the floor to avoid slipping. Also, be sure to keep the floor area clean and free of clutter to avoid trip hazards. Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention, in order to prevent injuring yourself.

Dog bites are treated under a strict liability standard. If your dog bites someone else, or if you are bitten by another person's animal, the owner of that pet is responsible. Take care to ensure that your pet is well trained and has a good temperament before allowing them to socialize and interact with your visitors. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so if you have any doubts about how your animal will behave, be sure to crate them before company arrives. 

Any unsafe condition in an apartment complex can be considered negligent, however it is important to make smart decisions and take notice of your surroundings, in order to avoid accidents. If you see any unsafe conditions, be proactive and report it to management immediately. Your quick action could not only prevent your own injury, but may also help protect one of your neighbors.

All products are by law, inspected to comply with regulated safety standards. Over time and after frequent use of a product, products may deteriorate or wear out.  Periodically inspect the item and power cord, to ensure it is still in good working order. If any of part of the item does not function properly or appears to be damaged, discontinue use to avoid personal injury.

The first thing that you should do to avoid injuries that could happen in an apartment is to be alert, aware, and make good judgement calls, in order to protect yourself.  If necessary, inform your landlord or the apartment complex manager of any imminent danger that you have noticed, so that the issue can be addressed.