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What's a person to do when faced with dual responsibilities to their young children and to their elderly parents? For the Sandwich Generation - so-called because they are sandwiched between caring for kids and seniors - the challenges are daunting, and sometimes confusing.

Childcare information is fruitful. But with baby boomers only starting to retire, the topic of elder care is relatively new. Meanwhile, the number of aging parents per worker 45 to 54 years old is expected to double by 2035 to 1.74 parents per worker, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicating that more and more adults will be assuming these dual caretaker roles.

"It's stressful," said Theresa Freeze, who has five children and cares for her 83-year-old mother. "When you have a whole family like this, you really have to consider everyone's welfare. I need to keep the kids' toys out of my mom's way, and I have to be aware that someday my mom might wander into the kitchen and forget that she doesn't cook anymore and burn down the house."

Fortunately, when it comes to safety, the most basic principles are applicable to everyone, regardless of age, nation or social standing.

"If you make your home safe for children, chances are you're making it safe for adults and the elderly, too," said John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager for Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent safety testing organization. "In many cases, there's little cost or time involved, but the benefits - preventing injury or even death - are immeasurable."

For example, the death rate from unintentional injuries in the home is approximately three times greater for older people than the younger population, according to estimates by the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC). Slips and falls are the main source of injury for older people in the home.

Falls also are one of the top three causes of injury sending millions of children to emergency rooms every year, CPSC reported. Preventative measures for both age groups are similar, and many steps are basic precaution. Certainly, a gate for the stairs can keep infants and toddlers from taking a spill, but eliminating cords stretched across walkways and purchasing only rugs with slip-resistant backing will benefit all ages.

Drengenberg offered tips about five major areas of home safety applicable to everyone:

• Smoke alarms
• Fire escape planning
• Alternative heating sources
• Cooking
• Electrical safety

Basic home safety

Smoke alarms: The easiest way to save lives is by installing smoke alarms. All you need are two screws and a battery. Since smoke alarms were introduced to consumers back in the 1970s, deaths in home fires have been cut in half. Install at least one UL-listed smoke alarm on every level of your home, including the basement and outside each sleeping area. UL has found, in part because of changing home environments, people can optimize the effectiveness of smoke alarms by having both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarm technology in their home. Test smoke alarms at least once a month and replace smoke alarm batteries once a year.

Fire escape planning: Draw a simple floor plan of your home. On it, mark two exits from every room, including windows, and an outside family assembly point, such as driveway or parking lot. Write "Call 911" on the escape plan and post it in a central location, such as the refrigerator door.

A fire drill in your apartment, condominium or house requires every family member to practice opening the doors and windows necessary to escape. Rehearse the plan until everyone understands it. Also, have a Parental Plan B. Children, older people and those with special needs may not wake up to the sound of a smoke alarm.

Alternative heating: Before using a space heater, be sure it is three-feet from combustibles such as draperies, clothing and furniture. Wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys and chimney connectors should be inspected annually by a professional and cleaned as often as inspections suggest. Fireplaces must have a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Furnaces should be inspected and serviced once a year, but homeowners should replace or clean the furnace filter regularly. Keep combustible materials, such as paint thinners, gasoline or kerosene, away from the furnace. And finally, cooking stoves, gas ovens and grills should never be used for heating a room or home.

Cooking: Never leave food unattended while cooking, and keep children and pets away from the cooking area. Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking, since loose clothing can dangle onto burners and catch fire. In the event of a range-top fire, turn off the burner, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding a lid onto the pan. Leave the lid in place until the pot or pan is cooled. Never use water, baking soda or flour to extinguish a grease fire Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher handy in the event of a grease fire. Never carry the pan outside-you could spread flames throughout the house. In case of an oven fire, immediately turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.

Electrical safety: Electrical shocks, hot outlets and hot plugs, burning smells and flickering lights are signs that your home's wiring system needs professional attention. The National Electrical Code® says extension cords are not meant to be a permanent replacement for wiring and should not be fastened in place or covered by a rug. Keep cords away from tabletops where children can pull on them and out of doorways where people might trip. If you have babies or toddlers, keep UL-listed covers over your electrical outlets.

Caring for seniors

As people age, their need for additional safety measures increases. Older people are targets for crime, take more medications regularly and may become forgetful or confused, leaving them vulnerable to accidents and injury.

Senior care specialists point to signs that an elderly relative needs assistance, including such things as weight loss, unhealthy hygiene, a fall resulting in a debilitating injury, unexplained wandering from home or a recommendation from a healthcare provider. Advocates urge children with aging parents to discuss the options for elder care before the need arises.

"If elderly parents are capable, by all means, involve them in an open discussion of issues directly related to their future," said Mirca Liberti, co-founder of Children of Aging Parents. "If they seem reluctant at first, persist. It's far better to air their fears and yours now, while they are still need little assistance."

Caregivers also can help assure the continued health of senior relatives by keeping in mind the additional safety requirements needed at home. Having pension and Social Security checks directly deposited in banks and installing peep holes in doors can help deter crime. Reviewing prescriptions regularly with doctors and using the same pharmacy, if possible, helps reduce the risk of harmful drug interactions.

Seniors have frailer bones, so a simple slip or tumble could result in dire consequences. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show that after car accidents, falls are the greatest cause of death among Americans ages 65 to 84.

To help prevent slips and fall, stock kitchen shelves so items are within reach, remove throw or scatter rugs and install grab bars in bathtubs and showers. Keep the path from the bedroom to the bathroom because seniors frequently need to use the restroom during the night. Also remove electrical cords from traffic areas and keep snow and ice clear from driveways and sidewalks.

For additional information on caring for elderly relatives visit the Children of Aging Parents Web site at www.caps4caregivers.org.

More needed for kids

Many preventative measures might seem like common sense for adults, but they could be brand-new bits of information for children. Since it never hurts for parents and grandparents to review safety, make teaching your children how to be safe a family activity. For some kids, it might be all the safety instruction they receive.

A 2007 survey by the Michael Cohen Group found that little, if any formal safety curriculum exists for children in kindergarten through second grade. Additionally, lessons about fire prevention and preparedness are the most needed, the survey determined. Children in this age group are unprepared for fire emergencies, and older children often lack the knowledge necessary to instruct their younger siblings or keep them safe in an emergency.

The survey made similar conclusions regarding kids and their lack of knowledge or disregard for safety around electrical appliances, wearing helmets for play on bikes, skates, inline skates and skateboards, and fire evacuation plans. Children surveyed also indicated they would not know what to do if someone else was in danger or trouble.

To help further foster awareness and understanding of safety in children, UL has expanded its public safety initiative with the assistance of The Walt Disney Company. Throughout 2008, UL and Disney will host more than 250 live, interactive Safety Smart® Super Challenge School Assemblies across the country.

"Providing reassuring, clear and confidence-building messages about preventing and dealing with unsafe situations is critical to help our children become empowered as they navigate daily life," said Barb Guthrie, UL Director of Consumer Affairs, who is liaison and leader of the Disney initiative. "We want to do it in a way that will not induce fear, but will retain a child's optimism in a world fit for discovery."

Also scheduled are hundreds of community safety events, as well as safety messages appearing on Disney.com, UL.com and through local Radio Disney stations' airwaves.

In addition, Disney Educational Productions has produced the first two in a series of UL-sponsored DVDs, "Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart at Home!" and "Safety Smart Science with Bill Nye the Science Guy: Electricity."

Each DVD program helps students realize the importance of safety and learn a variety of ways to help themselves and others avoid injuries. It is available in 15 languages and includes a teacher guide outlining the learning objectives, classroom and take-home activities, exercises and reproducible handouts. For more information, visit www.ul.com/consumers/kids.