How often have you, or someone you know, tripped over something in the dark?

The smallest thing, like the edge of a rug, can send you tumbling. Here are some crucial suggestions for staying safer at home at night:

* Night lights, the kind that plug into wall outlets, are inexpensive and highly preventive, especially for Gimpy people who make nighttime trips to the bathroom. Get night lights that automatically turn on at dark, and off at dawn. Put at least one in each room and along the path you use to the bathroom. We favor directional night lights that let you adjust the path of the light.

* In unfamiliar surroundings, such as a hotel or friend’s home, travel with a night light or leave a light on in the bathroom all night and close the door partway.

* Keep paths and stairways clear of objects, including slippers. Loose rugs are accidents waiting to happen. Get rid of them or fasten them securely to the floor with carpet tape.

* Finally, have your eyes checked at least once a year. If you have cataracts, have them removed sooner rather than later, and see how much brighter the world can be.

The human eye changes gradually with age, but the changes are critical, as the Harvard Health Letter described in its March 2006 issue.