For home safety, know your ABCs.

• Position: Your Life

As Americans increasingly turn to their homes as havens for enjoying their family and friends, they are looking for them to be not only comfortable and inviting, but safe and secure. To help ensure that "Home, sweet home" is also "Home, safe home," the American Furniture Manufacturers Association offers the following ABCs for safe furnishings.:

A is for awareness, which can help prevent accidents in the home.

B is for bunk beds, a good choice for children six and older, but not recommended for younger ones.

C is for crib, the best place for your baby to sleep. Make sure slats or spindles are no more than two and three-eighths inches apart and that none are loose or missing. The mattress should be firm and fit snugly in the crib.

D is for drawers, great for stashing stuff, but terrible as a stepping stool. To prevent tipping over, never allow kids to climb in drawers or open more than one at a time. Automatic stops that keep drawers from falling out on unsuspecting feet are a good feature, especially if youngsters are in the home.

E is for entertainment center, the perfect place to house your new TV. Just be sure it's the right size so that the set is properly supported and won't fall forward.

F is for falls, a leading cause of injuries and deaths in the home. Particularly vulnerable are the elderly and young children. To lessen the likelihood, eliminate clutter, be sure rugs have slip-resistant pads, keep electrical cords out of walkways, and clean up spills immediately.

G is for guardrails. Bunk beds should have them on each side of the top bunk, with the side against the wall or opposite the ladder running the full length of the bed. The other rail should have no more than 15 inches open at each end. Rails should be secure and sturdy and should extend at least five inches above the top of the mattress.

H is for height, which you should consider in bookcases and dressers. If the piece is taller than it is wide, you may want to secure it to the wall to prevent tipping over, especially if young children are in the home. Bookcases should never be overloaded, particularly on top.

I is for ideal. Remember that the ideal furnishings for your home are not only comfortable and beautiful, but safe as well.

J is for joiners. It's a good idea to check periodically to make sure all screws, bolts, brackets, and other joiners on your furniture are tight and secure.

K is for kids, who should never be allowed to play or climb on furniture, especially bunk...