Critical safety ruleElectrical safety
Never touch plugs or sockets with wet hands
Dry your hands first before plugging in, unplugging, or using a switch.
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Essential Home Safety Rules
The 53 frequent and actionable home-safety rules a newly arrived helper should learn first.
53 lessonsTraditional Chinese｜English｜Bahasa Indonesia｜Tagalog
Lessons in this collection
Critical safety ruleElectrical safety
Do not overload extension boards or adaptors
Connect only one extension unit or adaptor to each wall socket; use a separate fixed socket for high-power appliances.
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Critical safety ruleKitchen fire safety
Never leave cooking unattended
Stay in the kitchen while the stove is on; turn it off before you leave.
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Critical safety ruleChemical safety
Never mix bleach with other cleaning products
If detergent is needed first, rinse thoroughly with water before using bleach, and keep the area well ventilated.
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall prevention
Dry wet floors immediately
Clean up spills at once and dry the floor to prevent slips.
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Critical safety ruleBurn and scald prevention
Keep hot pots and soup away from children
Turn pot handles inward, keep hot food away from table edges, and never carry a child while holding hot food.
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Critical safety ruleSharp object safety
Put knives away immediately after use
Store knives in a secure knife block, sheath, or safe place with the blade protected and out of children's reach.
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Critical safety rulePoison prevention
Never store cleaning liquid in drink bottles
Keep cleaning products in their original, clearly labelled containers and out of children's reach.
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Critical safety ruleFood safety
Separate raw food from cooked and ready-to-eat food
Use separate chopping boards and knives; keep cooked or ready-to-eat food above sealed raw meat in the fridge.
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Critical safety ruleChild safety
Never leave a young child alone in the bath
Prepare everything before bath time and keep an adult within arm's reach throughout. Never leave, even for a moment.
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall prevention
Keep walkways clear of clutter
Put away toys, shoes, bags, boxes, and cords crossing the floor so routes to rooms, exits, and bathrooms stay clear.
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Critical safety ruleGas safety
Handle a suspected gas leak without sparks
Do not operate switches, appliances, phones, or doorbells; move away before calling for help.
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall prevention
Use secure anti-slip protection in bathrooms
Use a secure, well-fitted anti-slip mat or surface in the bath or shower area, keep it in good condition, and keep the floor dry.
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Critical safety ruleHome fire safety and escape
Keep the fire escape route clear
Keep the route from the flat door through the corridor to the stairs free of shoes, boxes, bicycles, and rubbish.
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Critical safety ruleSevere weather and window safety
Stay away from exposed windows during a typhoon
During gale or storm signals, shelter indoors away from exposed glass windows and doors.
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High-priority reminderSharp object safety
Keep a first-aid kit ready
Keep a clearly marked first-aid kit stocked, accessible to adults, and out of children's reach.
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High-priority reminderHome fire safety and escape
Display the home address and emergency contacts
Keep the exact flat, floor, block, estate, and street address beside the household phone for emergencies.
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Critical safety ruleBurn and scald prevention
Cool burns under running water
Move away from the heat source and cool a burn or scald promptly under gently running water.
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Critical safety ruleHome fire safety and escape
Stop, drop, and roll if clothes catch fire
If clothing catches fire, stop moving, drop to the floor, cover the face, and roll to smother the flames.
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High-priority reminderFood safety
Never cook foraged wild mushrooms
Do not cook or eat foraged wild mushrooms even if they look familiar. If eaten, keep a photo and details for medical staff without delaying care.
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High-priority reminderFood safety
Stop preparing food when vomiting or diarrhoeal
Stop preparing food and arrange for another person to take over. Seek medical advice and follow health guidance before returning to food handling.
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High-priority reminderFood safety
Stop using and separate recalled food
Stop using affected food and separate it so nobody takes it by mistake. Tell the household and follow the official or supplier's return instructions.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Fix wall cabinets to suitable structure
Stop using the cabinet and keep people out of the area beneath it. Arrange professional inspection of the wall, anchors and load; do not attempt an improvised repair.
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High-priority reminderElectrical safety
Immerse aquarium heaters before switching on
Restore the required water level before powering the heater again. Do not plunge a hot dry heater into water; arrange a check if it overheated.
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High-priority reminderElectrical safety
Empty pockets before machine washing
Load clothes only after the pockets are emptied. Put removed items safely away and stop the machine if an object or abnormal noise is noticed.
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High-priority reminderGas safety
Store LPG cylinders upright and away from drains
Keep LPG cylinders upright, stable, ventilated and away from drains and heat. Ask the supplier about relocation instead of improvising a new storage arrangement.
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High-priority reminderGas safety
Suspect carbon monoxide when several people feel unwell
Leave for fresh air as soon as it is safe and call 999 for suspected exposure. Do not re-enter to locate the source or retrieve belongings.
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High-priority reminderChemical safety
Protect pets and aquaria before insecticide spraying
Remove pets and protect aquaria, food and feeding equipment exactly as the label directs. Do not spray if these protections cannot be completed.
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High-priority reminderChemical safety
Never use industrial alcohol as handrub
Use a properly labelled product intended for hands, never industrial alcohol. Keep unclear products out of use and ask the supplier for identification.
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High-priority reminderChemical safety
Arrange safe litter cleaning during pregnancy
Clean litter daily, use gloves and wash hands with soap afterwards. If a pregnant person cannot avoid the task, seek healthcare advice on precautions.
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High-priority reminderPoison prevention
Do not give human medicine to pets without vet advice
Give medicine only according to the vet's instructions for that animal. If human medicine was swallowed, keep the pack, amount and timing for the vet.
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High-priority reminderPoison prevention
Keep chocolate and grapes away from dogs
Do not give chocolate, grapes or raisins to dogs as treats. Contact a vet promptly after suspected ingestion rather than waiting for symptoms.
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High-priority reminderHome fire safety and escape
Avoid softener sheets on flame-retardant fabrics
Do not add dryer sheets to flame-retardant clothing; follow the garment's care label. If an additive is unclear, leave it out and ask the employer or manufacturer; do not assume lost protection is restored.
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High-priority reminderFood safety
Keep reptiles and their tanks out of kitchens
Keep reptiles and their tanks out of the kitchen and never wash tanks in the food sink. Wash hands with soap after touching the animal, equipment or tank water.
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High-priority reminderSharp object safety
Seek medical care after animal bites
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek prompt medical care. Give clinicians available animal details; call 999 for severe injury or uncontrolled bleeding.
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High-priority reminderSevere weather and window safety
Treat heat-related confusion as an emergency
Call 999 and begin cooling in a safe cool place using wet towels and fanning. Give nothing by mouth unless fully alert and follow the ambulance operator's instructions.
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High-priority reminderBurn and scald prevention
Prevent prolonged-contact burns from warm pads
Avoid prolonged direct contact and do not sleep with a warm pad against the skin. Stop for redness or pain; seek professional advice for anyone with reduced sensation.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Never operate hydraulic storage beds alone
Do not operate a hydraulic storage bed alone or enter underneath without the specified secure support. Stop if the platform cannot be held safely and arrange repair.
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High-priority reminderChemical safety
Check pesticide labels before buying online
Before buying, check the Hong Kong pesticide registration number, intact packaging and household-use label; reject unclear products. Ask the employer or supplier to clarify missing information; do not substitute agricultural or industrial products.
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High-priority reminderFood safety
Recognise severe choking and seek help
Encourage effective coughing; if they cannot speak or cough effectively, call 999 and follow age-appropriate trained or dispatcher-guided first aid. Do not give drinks or use adult abdominal thrusts on a baby; follow the operator if responsiveness changes.
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High-priority reminderChild safety
Cover children's sandboxes when not in use
Cover a child's sandbox when unused to keep cats out; stop play and tell the employer if faecal contamination is found. Picking out visible faeces does not establish cleanliness; keep it out of use and wash hands with soap after sand contact.
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High-priority reminderSharp object safety
Leave deeply embedded objects in place
Leave the object in place; protect around it with dressings and apply pressure at the wound edges as instructed. Seek medical help and call 999 for severe bleeding; never push or pull the object.
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High-priority reminderHome fire safety and escape
Reduce exposure to smoke from an external fire
Only for outside smoke affecting an otherwise safe home, close windows and follow official advice; a fire in your building requires fire-escape instructions.
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High-priority reminderChild safety
Secure folded tables in storage
Secure the folded table as instructed so children cannot topple it; never let children crawl into or play with its leg frame. Do not leave it merely leaning against a wall; if it cannot be secured, arrange child-inaccessible storage with the employer.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Older passengers should remain seated while the bus moves
Remain seated while the bus moves and get up only after it stops safely. Use the handrail when moving and allow enough time to leave without rushing.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Mind the platform gap when accompanying children
After the train stops and doors open, check the platform gap before helping the child across; ask staff if crossing is not safe. Use the help point to contact staff; do not enter the tracks for dropped items or rush through closing doors.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Wait for the next train when doors are closing
Stop boarding when the closing warning sounds and wait for the next train. Never wedge an object or a child into the doors; ask staff for help if the group is separated.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Use a lift with a pushchair or wheelchair
Use a lift or suitable accessible route with a pushchair or wheelchair. If the lift is unavailable, ask staff for an alternative instead of taking the equipment onto an escalator.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Keep shoes and clothes clear of escalator edges
Keep feet and clothing away from side gaps and step edges while holding the handrail. Watch the exit and step clear; if anything becomes trapped, call for emergency stopping and help.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Clear the escalator exit immediately
Step off and move forward promptly to clear the landing. Stop to check directions or wait only after reaching a safe space away from the flow.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Use the emergency stop for an escalator incident
If safe, press the emergency stop during a fall or entrapment and call staff for help. Keep hands out of machinery and call 999 for serious injury; do not attempt a mechanical rescue.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Stay inside a trapped lift and use the alarm
Use the alarm or intercom, give the location and number of people, and remain inside. Wait for authorised rescue; do not pry doors open or climb out yourself.
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High-priority reminderSlip and fall prevention
Use the lift door-open button instead of your body
Use the door-open control instead of a hand, foot or wheeled chair to hold the doors. If there is not enough time, stay clear and wait for the next trip.
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