By ARMIN BROTT, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Dear Mr. Dad: In the past two weeks I've heard from three friends whose children have been hurt in a fall at home. I thought my childproofing days were behind me, but now I'm worried that the same thing could happen at my house. What can I do to make sure my kids are safe in their own home?

A: There are nearly 6,000 fall-related deaths every year in the United States, and falls are the No. 1 reason for injury and death caused at home. In fact, children are at risk for taking a fall from the time they start crawling until they're well into their pre-teens. Fall-proofing your house doesn't have to be a big, complicated or expensive deal. But it will require some effort. And fortunately, it's never too late to start.

Here are some steps that you can use to minimize the falling risk in your home. Some were suggested by the Home Safety Council.

--- Identify potential "fall zones" --- places in your home where falls are especially common or could be especially dangerous. The easiest way to do this is to invite a small group of wild 5-year-old boys over to your house and follow them around. If that's not possible, you'll have to do a thorough walk-through to identify trouble areas.

--- Keep cookie jars and any other tempting treats off of high shelves. Better a cookie than a cast or stitches.

--- Say no to mats and area rugs that don't have a slip-proof surface on the bottom.

--- Have night lights in hallways and bathrooms.

--- Make sure you have adequate lighting around places such as landings and stairways. Installing motion-sensor lights is an excellent way to illuminate potential tripping hazards.

--- All stairways should have hand rails on both sides that run all the way from top to bottom. Keep mail, toys and other stuff off the stairs, and repair any broken steps.

--- If you have small children, make sure you have working safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs and that you have side rails to keep them from falling out of bed.

--- Keep bathroom floors dry and install hand rails and nonskid mats or strips in the tub and shower.

--- Outside your house, make sure you have good lighting on porches and walkways. Keep paths and stairs clear of debris, and install handrails if necessary. Keep roots, branches and other tripping hazards trimmed.

--- If you have a swing set or other playground equipment, cover the entire area with plenty of wood chips, sand or rubber.

For more information on fall-proofing your home, visit the HSC Web site at www.homesafetycouncil.org.

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