You've no doubt heard it said that most accidents occur inside the home. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on how to make your home a safer place to live in.

Smoke Detectors. Contrary to popular belief they shouldn't go in the kitchen, where they're likely to go off when they shouldn't. Rather, they should be placed outside of every bedroom, to wake the sleeping, and on every floor of homes with more than one. Mount them at the ceiling's highest point, as smoke rises, and test them regularly (once a month).

Carbon monoxide detectors. These, too, should be placed outside of sleeping quarters and on every floor in multilevel homes. Where they shouldn't go is next to fuel-burning appliances and in areas prone to tempature fluctuations: in bathrooms and kitchens, or near fans, vents or windows. Carbon monoxide detectors do expire, so be sure to read the instructions.

In kitchens and bathrooms - anywhere there's potential for contact between you and a plugged-in device near water - standard electrical outlets should be replaced with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). GFCIs monitor current flow and cause the circuit to shut off if there's an imbalance, protecting you from electrocution. GFCIs should be professionally installed.

Bathrooms are a hot spot for home injuries. Having GFCIs will help with the issue of electrocutions, but falls are a big problem here too. To help prevent them, you should outfit your bathtubs and shower stalls with grab bars and non-slip mats, strips or decals. Also, put a bath mat (with a non-slip backing) on the floor outside of tubs and shower stalls where floors tend to get wet.

Trips and falls, a leading cause of household injuries, don't just happen in bathrooms. Make sure your home is well lit, particularly around entranceways and any stairs you have. Pick up some nightlights and put them where they'll illuminate paths you often tread at night. Additionally, take a survey of your home: are there any rugs or loose cords that could cause an accident?

Fire extinguishers - one per floor. Definitely have one in your kitchen, where home fires are most likely to occur - just don't keep it by the stove, where you may not be able to grab it in case of flames. Familiarize yourself with the different types (A,B,C, and D) and make sure you know how to use them; for example, B is ideal for kitchens, as it's intended for use on flammable liquid (e.g. grease fires).

Speaking of fires, consider replacing your regular candles with flameless ones; they flicker and are made of wax, but are battery operated. At the very least, exercise candle safety: always use a heat-resistant candleholder big enough to catch drips, place them on sturdy surfaces away from combustible materials, and never leave them unattended or let them burn all the way down.