When you start your seasonal cleaning this year, keep in mind that many accidents can be prevented by organizing your storage areas. Making better use of space in your home or apartment can free more room and help prevent falls and other accidents. The National Safety Council offers the following tips for safer, more efficient organization of your home.

•Donate usable, unneeded items to a charity or a flea market, or recycle them. If you cannot find a "second life" for unwanted items, it is time to throw them out.

•Keep frequently-used items in handy places. Store seasonal and special use items out of the way of daily activities.

•Use high and low shelves and cabinets according to size, weight and frequency of needed items. Put lightweight items on higher shelves and heavier items on the lower ones. Do all your household reaching and climbing on a sturdy stepstool or utility ladder with treaded steps.

•Keep knives and sharp objects in designated places known to all family members.

•Compact, plastic boxes with clear tops make safe containers for such small, sharp objects as pins and thumbtacks.

•Keep minimal amounts of flammable liquids on hand. Store them in a garage or an unattached shed, away from all heat sources.

•Examine the area under the sink (and on low cabinet shelves) for chemical products that could be hazardous to young children. Store these products in a locked drawer or cabinet out of sight and reach of children. Also, keep cutting instruments and flammables out of the reach of children