Playing outdoors will likely be a memorable
and rewarding part of your child’s spring and summer. Use these tips to make
sure your child stays safe while having fun in their outdoor play area.
Establish
backyard safety rules
Creating a set of rules for your children to
follow while playing outdoors is a simple and effective way to help make sure
they stay safe. Rules will differ depending on the size of your property, what
you have in your yard and other factors. For this reason, it is important to
come up with your own personalized set of rules that match the different
features of your property.
Examples of rules may include:
●
Do not play in the street
●
Do not leave the property or go
beyond certain boundaries
●
Do not play outdoors without an
adult’s permission or supervision
●
Stay away from bodies of water
●
Do not climb on tall trees or
structures
Store
gardening and lawn care tools out of reach
Shovels, hatchets,
pruning shears and other lawn care tools are essential when
it comes to keeping your yard looking its best. However, if they are left out,
these tools can easily become potential
hazards for both adults and children alike. Sheds, garages and basements are
often safe areas to lock away any sharp or potentially dangerous tools. Keeping
tools out of your childrens’ reach is an essential step in making your yard
safer.
Inspect
your yard for poisonous plants
No matter where you live, it is possible that
your backyard is home to potentially poisonous or otherwise dangerous plants.
Wild berry bushes and other visually appealing plants may look enticing to
children who do not know the difference between a safe plant and a harmful one. Because of
this, it is important that you remove these plants from your yard before you
allow your children to play in it. You may also opt to let your children know
why you are removing these plants and to teach them about the dangers of
touching or consuming certain flora. Add this to your annual landscaping
routine to help make your lawn safer.
Build a
fence
Putting a fence around the perimeter of your
property is a great way to create a safe outdoor play area for your children.
It is much easier to supervise your children and to monitor who or what enters
and leaves your property when it is fenced in.
Close
off swimming pools and trampolines
The misuse of swimming pools and trampolines is
to blame for many outdoor accidents that involve both children and adults. In
fact, according to the Center for Disease Control,
swimming pool-related accidents are the number one cause of death among
children ages one to four years old. Trampoline accidents are the cause of over
one hundred thousand injuries
annually. In many cases, these accidents could have been prevented by taking
the recommended safety precautions. For swimming pools, fences and alarms
should be installed. For trampolines, proper padding, safety nets and adult
supervision are recommended.
Have an
emergency plan in place
Although we do not like to think of them,
accidents can occur on anyone’s property. It is important to plan out emergency
procedures in the event that something goes wrong. Walk yourself through some
potential emergency scenarios and decide what the best course of action would
be to minimize negative impacts of the accident. It also may be a good idea to
invest in a first aid kit. This should help to make sure you have some basic
materials that could help you to sanitize and take care of minor injuries.
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