We all strive to live safe lives, which is why we have created a comprehensive list of safety and security resources. See our 2023 list of resources below.

Safety

Some safety organizations can be classified by the type of safety resources they provide or the demographic they provide resources for, but others offer more general resources  for many of the areas below: such as elder safety, child safety, safety for fire, water, and natural disasters, and online safety. One such comprehensive organization is the National Safety Council (NSC), which includes resources for home safety topics: emergency preparedness, distracted walking, older adult falls, child safety, and more. You can find the NSC resources here: https://www.nsc.org/home-safety, and you can contact customer service with questions at (800) 621-7619.  Another comprehensive safety organization is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, better known as the CDC. The CDC provides more in-depth resources for several topics, so their specific safety resources are listed under each appropriate heading below for easier access.

Elder Safety Resources

Each age group has unique safety issues to consider. For older Americans, safety includes preventing falls and injuries, finding affordable healthcare and healthcare providers, access to communication devices in the event of an emergency, and modifying your home. Our list of elder safety resources come from the government (Administration for Community Living, CDC, and the National Institute on Aging) and from non-profit organizations (AARP, HomeMods, and Stop Falls).

Administration for Community Living

The United States government agency Administration for Community Living (ACL) connects older adults and caregivers with the services they need to stay safe. This includes access to centers and services to provide information about healthcare, where to get services, and assistance with applications and enrollment in other government programs. ACL has programs specifically for aging and disability, Alzheimer’s and dementia, health and wellness, caregiver support, and more.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The United States government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency that protects the health of Americans, maintains research and resources about how to prevent falls for older adults. One in four people over the age of 65 will fall each year, but research shows that many of those falls could be avoided. The site includes information about falls and hip fractures, a list of publications and resources about falls, and programs for older adults.

  • Call the CDC with questions at 1-800-232-4636.

National Institute on Aging

The United States government also has a National Institute on Aging (NIA) that is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). NIA is a research-based institute that aims to better understand what happens to our bodies and minds as we age. They provide information about home safety, emergency preparedness for older adults, and the safe use of medicines.

AARP

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a non-profit organization that aims to empower its members on issues that affect retirees. Their areas of interest include safety, health, finance, family, travel, scams, and more. The AARP has information about safety inside the home and comprehensive caregiver resources.

  • You can find AARP’s home safety resources online at aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/.
  • You can call AARP toll free at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277).

HomeMods and Stop Falls

The University of Southern California’s School of Gerontology runs their Home Mods website of resources on modifying your home and their Stop Falls website of resources on preventing falls for older adults. You may need to modify your home to increase mobility and to improve safety, which is where these resources come in. Home Mods includes research articles, videos, and links. Many older adults worry about falls, and Stop Falls gives you the facts and resources about what it takes to prevent them.

Child Safety Resources

Children are naturally curious, so a large part of child safety involves educating parents, teachers, and caregivers about childproofing and unique child safety issues. Safety for children also includes knowing about food safety (what foods are safe to feed at what age), finding health insurance and social services, preventing access to medications, preventing drowning, and more. Our list of safety resources for children come from government agencies (Department of Health and Human Services, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and CDC) and from non-profits (American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Children, Prevention 1st, Safe Kids Worldwide, and Kids Health).

Department of Health and Human Services

The United States government’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides services and resources to keep children and families safe. HHS offers health insurance, social services, and public health and safety resources. Topics include food safety, medical device safety, drug safety, and more.

Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) protects the public from unsafe products by issuing recalls. The CPSC recalls potentially dangerous consumer products that post mechanical, electrical, chemical, or fire hazards. CPSC tests the safety of toys, cribs, bicycles, and more. They provide safety resources on a wide range of safety topics.

  • Call the toll-free consumer hotline at 1-800-638-2772 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EST).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), charged with protecting public health, maintains resources about preventing childhood injuries. Child injury prevention topics include fall prevention, drowning prevention, burn prevention, playground safety, poisoning prevention, and more. The CDC also provides information about the signs of a concussion, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety.

American Academy of Pediatrics

The well-known, non-profit organization American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is “dedicated to the health of all children,” from newborns to  young adults. The AAP website includes information and tips for health and safety. Topics include fireplace safety, social media safety, poison prevention, sun and swim safety measures, heat stress, and bullying.

Healthy Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains a second website called Healthy Children. Healthy Children is a non-profit organization that was created to empower parents and caregivers with the information and resources to improve children’s health. Healthy Children is unique in that you can search the site for resources not only by topic (Safety and Prevention, Healthy Living, Family Life, etc.), but you can also search by  age and stage of development. Therefore, the safety information is age-appropriate. Safety and Prevention topics include backyard safety and preparing for hurricanes and large storms.

Prevention 1st

Prevention 1st in a non-profit organization dedicated in preventing childhood injuries through education and safety proofing environments. Prevention 1st maintains a comprehensive list of safety resources on topics such as preventing choking and suffocation; preventing drowning; preventing falls; fire safety for kids, parents, and teachers; natural disaster safety; and more.

Safe Kids Worldwide

The non-profit organization Safe Kids Worldwide aims to protect children from preventable injuries. They list resources to keep kids safe in the home, including fall prevention, medication safety, sleep safety, suffocation prevention, laundry pod safety, toy safety, water safety, and more.

  • To see the full list of resources to keep kids safe, visit https://www.safekids.org.
  • You can call Safe Kids Worldwide at (202)662-0600.

Kids Health

Kids Health is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing families with the information they need to be healthy and safe. Kids Health maintains safety resources for kids, teens, and educators. Kid safety topics include safety around animals, near the swimming pool, and during storms.

Fire Safety Resources

Fire remains one of the most important safety issues in the home. The organizations below provide resources to help you be prepared in the event of a fire. Our list of safety resources for fire come from a government agency (U.S. Fire Administration) and from non-profit organizations (Home Fire Drill, National Fire Protection Association, and the American Burn Association).

U.S. Fire Administration

The United States government Fire Administration works toward a fire-safe America through education programs and materials about fire prevention and safety. The United States Fire Administration offers free access to pre-recorded webinars about fire prevention; social media tool kits to spread the word about fire safety; and information about fire alarms, cooking fires, electrical fires, and escape planning.

Home Fire Drill

The non-profit organization Home Fire Drill was created to educate households about the importance of smoke alarms and to encourage everyone to have an exit plan in case of a fire, and to practice your home fire drill two times a year. Home Fire Drill provides information about the importance of a home fire drill, what it’s like to be in a home fire, and the importance of smoke alarms. They also have resources to help you create your family’s exit plan and execute your home’s fire drill.

  • You can find out more about Home Fire Drill and their resources at https://www.homefiredrill.org.
  • For more information about Home Fire Drill, you can call Jack Dinaburg at (585)383-6505.

National Fire Protection Association

The non-profit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is one of the most visible organizations in fire safety. Part of NFPA’s mission is to provide tools and resources for the public and for educators that make fire safety easy. NFPA’s public education component includes Learn Not to Burn programs that provide age-appropriate fire safety education for ages 3-7. Their mascot Sparky the Fire Dog does school visits, and the website includes interactive activities for children, parents, and educators to learn about fire safety.

American Burn Association

The American Burn Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping burn victims and preventing burns from happening in the first place. A large part of burn prevention is fire safety. The American Burn Association provides resources for gas fireplaces and preventing kids from starting fires. They also have prevention campaign information for fire and burn safety for older adults.

Water Safety Resources

From the swimming pool and bathtubs to slippery floors, water safety is a serious safety issue in and around the home. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of four. Our list of safety resources for water come from a government agencies (Pool Safely and CDC) and from non-profit organizations (Water Safety USA, Red Cross, and YMCA).

Pool Safely

Pool Safely is a national public education campaign from the United States government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission. Pool Safely aims to reduce childhood drownings and injuries and deaths due to submersion and entrapment. The resources for parents include safety tips, actionable items, grandparent-specific information, and a kids’ corner. The Kids’ Corner has educational activities and videos to teach children about water safety.

  • Find everything you need for pool safety at Pool Safely’s website: https://www.poolsafely.gov.
  • Contact Pool Safely at (301)504-7908.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes public health and safety its mission, and water safety is part of that mission. The CDC water-related injuries page lists drowning statistics and how to prevent drowning. Reading and understanding the drowning information can help keep you and your loved ones safer around water. Statistics include an overview of the risks of drowning, who is most at risk, how to prevent drowning, and other resources.

  • Call the CDC with questions at (800)232-4636.

Water Safety USA

Water Safety USA is a roundtable of established government organizations and non-profits that aim to educate the public about water safety and drowning prevention. Their primary mission is to empower people through better access to information and to improve how water safety information, resources, and tools are delivered so that the delivery is the most effective.

  • You can find out more about Water Safety USA and their resources at https://www.watersafetyusa.org.
  • You can call the Water Safety USA moderator, B. Chris Brewster, at (619)807-7777.

Red Cross

The Red Cross is a non-profit organization with a close relationship with the United States government. Their mission is to alleviate and prevent human suffering in emergencies. The Red Cross offers safety training in many areas, including swimming and water safety. They provide information about the importance of swimming and water safety, what it means to be water competent, how to prioritize water safety, and emergency preparedness. The site also has a tool to help you find swimming lessons near you.

YMCA

The non-profit organization YMCA, which is also called “the Y,” focuses on improving communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program has information about the types and levels of swim lessons offered at the YMCA, how to help keep kids safe around water, and what Safety Around Water at the YMCA means.

Natural Disaster Safety Resources

When a natural disaster strikes, it’s best to be prepared, and our list of safety resources can help you learn about how to remain safe. A natural disaster is a natural event that causes loss of life or great damage. Natural disasters include floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, and more. Our list of  resources come from government agencies (FEMA and Ready) and from a non-profit organization (Red Cross).

FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government wants the U.S. to be “A Nation Prepared” when it comes to disasters. That’s why FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preventing, responding to, preparing for, and recovering from natural and man-made domestic disasters. FEMA maintains emergency preparedness materials for earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, and fires.

Ready

The United States government created the public service campaign Ready to empower and educate Americans to prepare for and respond to natural and man-made emergencies. Ready provides information about every type of emergency situation, including natural disasters, and what you should know, how to prepare, and what to do in the midst of a natural disaster. Ready also gives you the tools to create your own plan and gives you opportunities to get involved in natural disaster preparation.

  • Find out more about Ready and their resources at https://www.ready.gov/kids.
  • For general preparedness information, call Ready at 1-800-FED-INFO.

Red Cross

The Red Cross is a well-known non-profit organization that works with the United States government in emergency situations, including natural disasters. The Red Cross responds to disasters of all kinds and provides relief for people affected by those disasters. They provide financial assistance to families and communities impacted by natural disasters to help aid recovery. The Red Cross offers training classes in first aid, CPR, and other safety areas that could prove to be indispensable in a natural disaster. They also offer emergency preparedness kits for the home.

Food Safety Resources

From farms and factories to your plate, it’s important that the foods available to us are guaranteed to be safe. Food safety involves safe food production, storage, consumption, and more.  Our list of food safety resources come from government agencies (Food Safety, USDA, and the FDA) and from a non-profit organization (Center for Food Safety).

Food Safety

Food Safety is a government-run gateway to information about food safety provided from United States government agencies. Food Safety compiles information from the USDA, FDA, and CDC to help the public find important information quickly. Food Safety includes up-to-date resources that include recalls and outbreaks that affect food, food safety charts, information about food poisoning, and how to keep food safe.

  • Learn more about Food Safety at https://www.foodsafety.gov.
  • Food Safety includes social media links to follow but no contact information. Since Food Safety is run by multiple government agencies, you can call the agency (listed below) that best fits your needs.

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensures that processed eggs, meats, and poultry are safe to consume. They maintain resources about regulations and policies, science and data about food safety, recall information, and education materials on food safety. FSIS has downloadable content for students and teachers and information targeted at kids and teens, as well as at general consumers.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States government protects the public’s health and makes sure that food and drugs are safe to use and secure. The FDA has everything you want to know about food safety. They maintain resource libraries targeted at different audiences, such as consumers, students and teachers, health educators, and healthcare professionals. Food safety topics range from food labeling and nutrition to food defense and chemicals, metals, and pesticides in food.

  • Find out more about the FDA and food safety at https://www.fda.gov/food.
  • Call the FDA at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).

Center for Food Safety

The non-profit organization Center for Food Safety concentrates on improving farming practices and educating the public about sustainable farming practices and organic food standards. They want to stop the use and misuse of harmful pesticides that put the safety of our food at risk. Their food safety resources include fact sheets, reports, and legal actions.

Internet Safety Resources

Most of us use the internet daily, so it’s important to know how to remain safe online. The United States government finds this topic to be of the utmost importance, which is why they have dedicated so much time to informing the public about how to protect themselves online. Our list of internet safety resources come from the United States government and from government agencies (FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the FCC).

United States Government

Under their Scams and Frauds topic, the United States Government outlines how to stay safe online. They include information about online safety and security, internet fraud, and phishing and vishing. Their information about online security and safety includes dos and don’ts for staying safe online and about where to report cyber crime. They also provide information about what internet fraud is and where to report it, if you think you’ve been a victim.

  • Call the U.S. government toll-free at 1-844-USA-GOV1 (1-844-872-4681).

FBI

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) protects the American people and protect civil rights by investigating terrorism, public corruption, and cyber crimes. They provide statistics and tips about safety online. The FBI has information directed at the public, at educators, at businesses, and even at children with their age-appropriate Safe Online Surfing games.

Department of Homeland Security

The United States Department of Homeland Security keeps the U.S. safe from a wide range of threats, and their agency The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) deals specifically with online safety and cyber threats. The CISA provides a large amount of information about how to stay safe online. The CISA launched the Stop.Think.Connect Campaign to increase public awareness about online safety and security.

FCC

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates communication by television, radio, cable, satellite, and wire across the United States, including international communications. The FCC is responsible for public safety issues regarding these communication methods. Through their Consumer and Governmental Affairs office, the FCC helps educate the public, including about matters of online safety. Their resource page on online safety also includes information about how to keep children safe on wireless devices.

Security

Government agencies and non-profit organizations provide security resources to help you secure your private information and your home. The security resources we have outlined below fall into the categories of cyber security, financial security, or home security.

Cyber Security Resources

Whether you’re conducting business transactions or personal communication, it’s important to keep your private information private. Use cyber security resources to keep you and your information secure. Our cyber security resources come from government agencies (Homeland Security and Ready) and a non-profit organization (National Cyber Security Alliance).

Homeland Security: CISA

The United States government established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to combat digital threats. CISA partners government with industry to manage cyber risks to the United States infrastructure. CISA makes it their mission to educate the American public by providing tips and alerts, directives and guidance, and information about securing networks, information sharing, and protecting cyber infrastructure. The CISA campaign Stop.Think.Connect. was designed to educate the public about online security and safety.

Ready

Ready is a public service campaign of the United States government that is designed to educate and empower U.S. citizens to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including how to prepare for a cyber attack. Ready outlines what to do before, during, and after a cyber attack. The Ready website includes a list of whom to contact if you have been targeted by a cyber attack.

National Cyber Security Alliance 

The non-profit organization National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) builds and strengthens private/public partnerships to educate and build awareness about how to stay secure and safe online. The NCSA website Stay Safe Online includes resources for basic online safety, fraud and cybercrime, managing your privacy, and other topics. The basic online safety outlines how to protect yourself against malware, ransomware, spam, and phishing.

Financial Security Resources

Your financial security is of the utmost importance. A breach of your financial accounts could be devastating and take lots of time and money to correct. Our list of financial security resources come from the United States government (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Ready, and MyMoney).

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The United States government created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to regulate consumer financial services and products and to empower and educate the public to make informed financial decisions. The CFPB offers consumer tools, practitioner resources, data and research, and information about policy and compliance. Consumer tools include money topics, such as mortgage information, and guides for buying a house, paying for retirement, and more.

Ready

The United States government’s public service campaign Ready strives to educate and empower the public with information about emergencies. One of the resource lists they include has information about financial preparedness in the event of an emergency or other disaster. Ready collaborated with FEMA to create the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to help you secure your finances and learn tips for minimizing the impact of a disaster on your finances.

MyMoney

MyMoney.gov was created by the Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission as a means to increase the American public’s access to financial services and information. The site offers money advice based on five principles: earn, save and invest, protect, spend, and borrow. The principle of Protect addresses financial security. MyMoney provides actions you can take to keep your finances secure, tips and hints, and resources, including guides and tools.

  • Find out more about MyMoney and about their resources to protect your finances at https://www.mymoney.gov/protect/Pages/Protect.aspx.
  • Call 1-800-FED-INFO for information about any federal programs, agencies, services, or benefits provided by the United States government.

Home Security Resources

Keeping your home secure is incredibly important. Our home security resources come from the United States government (Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Homeland Security).

Federal Trade Commission

The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides information so that consumers can identify and avoid fraud, deception, and unfair business practices. The FTC consumer information covers scams; privacy, identity, and online security; making money and jobs; fitness and health; money and credit; and homes and mortgages. Under Homes and Mortgages, the FTC outlines how to keep your home protected from home security system scams.

Homeland Security: CISA

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was created by the United States Department of Homeland Security. CISA helps educate the public on how to enhance personal security by providing tips and alerts, directives and guidance, and information about security. CISA provides tips on how to secure the Internet of Things, which includes home security systems.

Home Security Quiz & Checklist

How does your home measure up when it comes to security? Take this quiz to see how you score, and get recommendation to protect your home.

Take the Quiz