Free for everyone · about two minutes

How safe is your home? Take the free check.

Thirteen quick questions about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, floors and stairs, the bathroom, and getting help if you need it. You get a score out of 100 and the three changes that matter most. Doing it for a parent? Answer for their home.

Start the check

No member number and no email. Your answers stay on this device.

Your home safety check

Answer for how things are today. If something doesn’t fit your home, choose the last answer where it’s offered and it won’t count against you.

Fire and carbon monoxide

Is there a working smoke alarm on every storey of the home and outside every bedroom?
If the home has a gas furnace or stove, a fireplace or an attached garage, is there a carbon monoxide alarm near every bedroom and on every storey?
Is there a plan for getting out in a fire, and does someone else know it?

Floors, stairs and lighting

Are the places you walk clear of loose rugs, cords and clutter?
Do the stairs have solid handrails on both sides, from top to bottom?
Is there good lighting everywhere, with night lights on the way from the bedroom to the bathroom?

The bathroom

Are there grab bars by the toilet and the tub or shower, firmly anchored to the wall?
Is there a non-slip surface or mat in the tub or shower?

Health and getting help

Has a doctor or pharmacist gone over all your medicines in the last year, including ones bought without a prescription?
Have your eyes and hearing been checked recently?
Are you active most days, for example walking or doing exercises for strength and balance?
If you fell or felt unwell, could you reach a phone or call for help, even at night?
Is a list of your emergency contacts and medicines easy to find, for example on the fridge?

Why these questions

The Public Health Agency of Canada says falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians, and half of the falls that put someone in hospital happen at home. Most of the questions above come from its guide, You CAN prevent falls.

The alarm questions come from Ontario’s own pages: by law, every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas (fire safety at home), and homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage need carbon monoxide alarms (carbon monoxide safety). If you rent and an alarm is missing, tell your landlord.

How the score works. Each question counts once, and the six that matter most count twice: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, stair handrails, grab bars, a medicine review and being able to call for help. “Partly” counts for half, and an answer that doesn’t fit your home is left out. This is a checklist, not a home inspection or medical advice.

Questions about the check

Is the home safety check free?
Yes. It’s free for everyone, with no member number and no email. Your score appears on the page as soon as you answer.
Can I do it for my mother or father?
Yes. Answer for their home, or better still, go through it together. Print the score and the next steps and take them on your next visit.
Are my answers sent to CASL?
No. Your answers are scored on your device and kept only there, so you can come back to them. CASL never sees them.
Do I need smoke alarms by law in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario says every home must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. Homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage also need carbon monoxide alarms. See fire safety at home on ontario.ca.
How often should I test my alarms?
Ontario says to test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms every month with the test button, replace smoke alarms every 10 years, and replace carbon monoxide alarm batteries every year.
Is this a home inspection?
No. It’s a checklist based on Canadian and Ontario guidance, not an inspection and not medical advice. For a medicine review, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Can CASL help me make the changes?
CASL members can ask us for help. When you need a business for a job, we introduce you to one in our network, only when you say yes. Joining is free: join CASL.

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