Florida may lead the nation in drowning deaths from traffic accidents, as a recent report from WESH TV noted – a statistic that ought to resonate with anyone who operates a motor vehicle.

However, according to numbers compiled by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the most likely place where accidents occur is right in our very own homes.

In fact, the leading cause of death in children is accidents, including falls, fires, animal bites, drowning and severe burns. For those over the age of 65, falls – the vast majority of which occur in a person’s residence – are the number one cause of injury and death.

While it’s certainly wise to take steps to prevent you or members of your family from falling prey to home accidents, it’s every bit as prudent to safeguard against accidents involving your visitors and guests. Here are a few tips for mitigating potential safety risks:

Install child-proof devices wherever needed, including locks and door closers in such places as medicine and supply cabinets. One often-overlooked area – the cabinet underneath the kitchen sink.

Go over every inch of your home’s bathrooms: Are there non-skid pads in bathtubs and showers, nightlights to facilitate that midnight bathroom break and grab bars for elderly residents and visiting relatives? Set your hot water heater to a temperature of 120 degrees or below to avoid accidental scalding.

For kitchens and baths – and anywhere else where water might get close to electricity – install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets to prevent a short circuit.

Install handrails on both sides of all staircases, ensuring that that all rails extend completely past the top and bottom steps of each stair unit.

Make sure that all of your draperies are at least one foot above floor surfaces and that they are safely out of the way of any vents or baseboard-heating units. In addition, don’t forget those pesky cords, which can easily wrap around a person’s arm or leg when the blinds/curtains are raised to take full advantage of your living room’s ocean view.

Pay special attention to your pets. Every dog will attack if it feels threatened, no matter how many obedience classes he or she has passed. Your pets must be under your control at all times, even while on your own property. If you have any doubt as to how your pet might behave, consider using a muzzle, particularly when guests or unfamiliar children are present.

In general, it’s best to remember that old, reliable piece of advice, which has prevented many an accident (and likely many a subsequent lawsuit): “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”