Houses

The following are tips on how to make houses safer for people with epilepsy:

• Carpet the floors in your house or apartment with heavy pile and thick under padding.
• Pad sharp corners of tables and other furniture; look for rounded corners when you shop.
• Put guards around the fireplace or, preferably, close fireplace screens while a fire is burning.
• Don't smoke or light fires when you're by yourself.
• Don't carry hot fireplace ashes or lighted candles through the house.
• Avoid space heaters that can tip over.
• Use curling irons or clothing irons with automatic shut off switches to prevent burns.
• Select chairs with arms to prevent falling.
• Make sure motor-driven equipment, such as a lawn mower, has a "dead man's" handle that will stop the machine if your hand releases normal pressure.

Bathrooms

• Hang bathroom doors so they open outwards instead of inwards (so that if someone falls against the door, it can still be opened).
• Put extra padding under carpeting in the bathroom.
• Hang an "Occupied" sign on the outside handle of the bathroom door, instead of locking it.
• Routinely check that the bathroom drain works properly before taking a bath or shower.
• If you fall frequently during seizures, consider using a shower or tub seat with a safety strap.
• Keep water levels in the tub low.
• Consider using a hand held shower nozzle while seated in tub or shower.
• Set water temperature low so that you won't be scalded if you lose consciousness while hot water is running.
• Avoid using electrical appliances, such as a hair dryer or electric razor, in the bathroom or near water.

Kitchens

• Slide containers of hot food along the counter instead of picking them up, or use a cart when taking hot foods or liquids from one room to another.
• Use plastic dishes and cups with lids (commuter cups) to prevent cuts or burns from spills.
• Use a microwave oven for cooking.
• When you use the stove, try to use the back burners as much as possible.
• Remove burner controls from gas or electric stoves when not in use.
• Use long, heavy duty oven mitts or holders when reaching into a hot oven.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling knives or washing dishes and glassware in the sink.
• Use plastic rather than glass containers as much as possible.