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Reduce trip hazards from loose rugs and cluttered walkways

Inspect rug edges, mats, hallway cords and night lighting to make walking routes safer.

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Wikimedia Commons · Kinna2 / Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0; original unchanged; file page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nice_living_Room_with_homemade_carpet.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

For homes with loose rugs, entry mats, small furniture or frequently used routes for older adults. You may only need time to inspect; suitable nonslip backing is optional because removing an unsafe rug can be the safest choice. CDC and NHS guidance recommends reducing throw-rug and floor clutter hazards and improving lighting to reduce falls. Frequent falls or dizziness require professional assessment in addition to home changes.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Walk the usual routes from living room to bedroom, bathroom and entrance. Look for curling rug edges, loose mats and sliding surfaces.
Remove small loose rugs where possible. If a rug must remain, use backing or securing methods appropriate to the flooring, and correct any edges that lift again.
Remove small mats at the top and bottom of stairs. Check whether doors catch or bunch up nearby rugs.
Clear bags, boxes, shoes and trailing cords from hallways and bedside routes. Do not hide electrical cords underneath carpet.
Check lighting along the route from bedroom to bathroom, on stairs and at the entrance after dark. Make switches easy to reach.
Prioritize safety over decoration. If tripping keeps happening or balance is poor, seek a fall-risk evaluation and guidance on further supports.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAbout Vision Impairment and Falls Among Older Adults ↗CDC directly recommends removing throw rugs or securing with double-sided tape, improving lighting, railings and nonslip safe routes.Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustFalls - Staying safe at home ↗NHS public fall-prevention guidance: remove/secure loose rugs, use bathroom nonslip mats, clear clutter, don't leave cables across the floor, avoid mats at stair ends.Wikimedia CommonsFile:Nice living Room with homemade carpet.jpg ↗1974 room photograph by Kinna2 showing a patterned large rug, CC BY-SA 4.0, original image opened. This photo does NOT document a safety failure.Wikimedia CommonsCommons: Reusing content outside Wikimedia / technical ↗Direct hotlinks allowed subject to file-specific credit and Creative Commons license requirements.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCDC 낙상 예방: 러그 고정·조명·계단 점검 ↗CDC 낙상 예방: 러그 고정·조명·계단 점검 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustNHS 집안 러그·전선·잡동사니 점검 안내 ↗NHS 집안 러그·전선·잡동사니 점검 안내

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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