Home Decor: Spruce up for Summer Safety!

Outdoor Safety for Kids

As the weather warms, more kids will be playing outside. It is important to take a look at anything in your yard or home that might cause harm to children. Beyond that, it’s key to actually teach kids about outdoor safety so that they can avoid harm themselves.

Garage/Workshop – Make sure all electrical items are unplugged and out of reach. These include saws, grinders, and drills. Tools should be hung high or locked in a toolbox to prevent kids from wanting to play with them. We all know how much kids like to use hammers, screwdrivers, and chisels like adults. Long-handled tools should be hung on the wall to prevent tripping. Bigger items such as chain saws, lawnmowers, and ladders should be placed so that children are discouraged from trying to use them.

All poisonous materials must be out of children’s reach. These may include solvents, strippers, fungicides, pest-control products, fertilizers, pool chemicals, oil, and antifreeze. Also make sure flammable items and rags are stored away from electrical tools. If it’s possible, keep any or all of these items in a lockable storage area or keep the garage or workshop locked to prohibit a child from entering.

Test your garage door to make sure it has reversible action that senses when a child is obstructing it from closing. Most automatic garage door systems made after 1993 are equipped with this feature, but it must be tested on a regular basis.

Play Equipment – Make sure swing sets and trampolines are firmly grounded. The area around play equipment should have at least 9-12 inches in depth of soft material, such as mulch or sand, in case of falls. Be sure play equipment is far enough away from fences, landscaping, and walkways to prevent hard falls. Inspect the play equipment on a regular basis to make sure it is in safe condition.

Grills – When using an outdoor grill, keep children away and teach them the danger of burns and fire. Kids should be supervised constantly until the grill is cooled down.

Trees – Trim trees up to at least five feet above the ground to discourage kids from climbing. Remove dead branches that may fall due to high winds or flying toys.

Pools – If you have a deep pool, fence it in and lock it up! This is one of the biggest dangers to kids during the warmer months. Empty shallow wading pools when not in use and turn them upside down. It only takes a minute for a child to fall into a pool and drown. Supervise children every second where pools of water, regardless of depth, are present.

Kites and Electricity – Teach children the danger of flying kites around electrical wires. If there is not an area in your yard without electrical wires, then prohibit your kids from flying kites. Designate another time and place for that activity.

Bikes, Skates, and Skateboards – Keep these items in working condition; inspect them regularly. Insist that your children wear safety helmets and pads at all times when playing with these toys! It only takes one good fall to severely injure a precious head.

Street Safety – Teach children safety about pedestrian accidents at a young age, and continue to do so as they grow. Small children should never cross the street unsupervised. No child should be allowed to play in the street unless an adult is carefully watching.

A good way to prevent outdoor accidents is to take three steps: spot the hazard, assess the risk, and make changes. Take a tour of your garage and front and back yards and make the changes necessary to prevent an injury or fatal accident to your children.

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Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan