Your backyard is the place where all the summer fun goes down for the kids! It offers your children fresh air, exercise, and invaluable fun & entertainment. Unfortunately, this space can also end up being dangerous for your kids if left unattended. Therefore, it’s important to follow simple safety guidelines to prevent any potential outdoor accidents and injuries.
Here are 5 ways to ensure your backyard is a safe space for your kids to wreak havoc in!
Survey Your Yard for Potential Hazards
Survey the area that your kids usually play in. Scan your backyard for natural hazards like thorns, low tree limbs and fire ant mounds. Also make sure to pick up any items that may have inadvertently been left out or can get in the way like hoses, garden tools, or ladders. Put them in a secure place that isn’t easily accessible for your kids. A quick check of any play area is the easiest step in making sure your kids are in a safe space.
Get Rid of Poisonous Flowers and Plants
The older kids probably know to stay away from any poisonous vegetation, but babies & toddlers can easily be tempted to put unwanted toxic flowers and plants in their mouths. Most people don’t realize that even common plants like Daffodils, English Ivy, and Foxgloves are extremely poisonous when ingested. Make sure any poisonous vegetation in your backyard is either put beyond reach or removed immediately.
To learn more or see a list of other poisonous flowers and plants, please visit the following link. If you find out your kid has ingested a toxic plant, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222.
Maximize the Security in and Around Your Pool
Nothing beats the heat in the summer like a fun day at the pool. Unfortunately, statistics show that drowning is the most common cause of death for children under the age of 4. A further sad truth is that most of these drownings occur in residential swimming pools! To prevent any pool incidents in your own backyard always make sure to keep any doors leading to the pool area locked and the cover to your hot tub is securely latched.
Kids love to run in and out to the backyard and pool. That is why Casper retractable screen doors feature sliding, adjustable handles for added peace of mind. As parents, we can position the handles up high and out of reach from our little ones. Additionally, we offer optional slide locks on our Double Door Retractable Screens. You can simply lock in place each of the door screens at any time.
Install A Fence or Boundary
Installing a fence or boundary fences that come with self-latching and self-closing gates will help ensure that your children and even pets remain in your yard. If you are not able to install a fence, make sure to set well-defined boundaries where your children can play. Items such as driveway safety nets are an easy and cost-effective way to keep children and their toys within a well-defined space. They are also a great visual barrier to passing traffic when used in the front yard or driveway.
Always Supervise Children
No amount of surveying the yard or installing boundaries is going to help if you’re not supervising your children yourself. By supervising your children’s backyard fun, you can also be sure they take needed rest breaks, apply sunscreen and, most importantly, stay hydrated!
Outdoor play is an integral part of any child’s social and physical development. This summer we urge you to encourage your kids to explore their surroundings with all these security checks in place. Have a fun and safe summer!
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