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Spring and Summer Safety Tips for Your Backyard

After what has been a very harsh winter for many parts of the country, spring and summer come once again to wash away freezing cold memories and offer us the greatest bounty there is: the chance to live life in the Great Outdoors. However, the warmer months can also bring about a plethora of accidents, unexpected injuries and material damage. Protect you loved ones and your possessions against injury and damage, respectively, by following these handy tips:

Machinery: Most of us have a load of gadgets in our backyards and outdoor storage rooms. These can include electric saws, drills and lawn mowers. Make sure that all potentially dangerous items are stored in a locked storage unit. When you are using machines, make sure to wear the required protective gear and to avoid the likelihood of slips and falls by wearing shoes with a good grip.

Be particularly careful when you mow the lawn; according to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, every year, around 70,000 people are injured while using a lawnmower, and 800 children are run over by mowers or small tractors; additionally, 75 people are killed. When mowing the lawn, clear the yard of all toys and small items, which can fly and injure the eyes or other parts of the body. Carbon monoxide which emanates from a lawn moving machine can be dangerous; ensure you do not use the machine in an enclosed space to prevent intoxication.

Do not treat the lawnmower as a toy by allowing kids to climb on it and do not leave it alone and running; children can be very quick to reach it and injure themselves. When using all other machinery (such as power saws, nail guns etc.) it is vital to read their respective manuals carefully. These will have important information on clothing which should be worn, the correct blades which should be used, how to remove waste from your workspace without causing wounds or splinters, etc.

Pools: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that every day, around 10 people in the US die from unintentional drowning; two of these are children aged 14 or under. Children aged one to four have the highest drowning rate. Protect them by restricting entry with a pool safety fence. Do not leave children (even older children) alone, since injury can occur if they dive improperly or run on slippery surfaces, etc. Make sure your pool is in tip-top condition, particularly the drains, which can cause entrapment if defective. Equipment and lighting should also be checked to avoid electrocution.

Fire: Summer is the perfect time for barbecues, but if you do a lot of grilling, make sure your home is fire-proof. Keep the grill away from combustible fabrics, clean the grill after use (since excess grease can catch fire), and check all your equipment (the gas hose etc.) to check for leaks and damage. Do not leave items like starter fluid unattended, or anywhere where little hands can reach them. Firepits are also typically used in the summer to roast marshmallows and keep warm on the rare chilly night. Make sure to dispose of the coals only when they have completely cooled. Never leave a fire unattended.

Backyard fun: Trampolines cause close to 100,000 injuries a year and children’s playsets can also be dangerous if they are not sturdy or if they are broken or cracked. The summer sun can cause a lot of damage, so check children’s equipment for sturdiness and make sure there are no tears in the material that can cause cuts and scrapes. As far as trampolines are concerned, keep them close to the ground and anchor them firmly with a property trampoline anchoring kit. Remove access ladders to small children cannot climb up the structure in your absence. Do not allow children to use the trampoline without adult supervision.

Theft: For many people, summer isn’t about being home at all; rather, it is the one time of the year that they can take off for their favorite vacation spot, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Still, one can hardly relax fully knowing that their possessions may be at risk of theft or destruction, which is why insuring your home contents against these possibilities is advisable. The US Department of Justice notes that there are seasonal trends as far as theft is concerned: “For household property crimes, the victimization data indicate that there are seasonal patterns in household burglary and larceny, with higher rates in the summer and lower rates during other seasons of the year.” A good policy will ensure you leave home with the security of knowing that even in a worst case scenario, you will be reimbursed if items of value are stolen or damaged by third parties.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Unintentional Drowning, accessed February, 2015.

SVhealthcare.org, Cutting the Lawn: Don’t Become an Injury Statistic, accessed February, 2015.

Ringersgloves.com, Hand Injury Statistics, accessed February, 2015.

Workzonesafety.org, Prevention of Strains, Sprains and Material Handling Injuries in Construction, accessed February, 2015.

PopularMechanics.com, The 5 Most Dangerous Tools, And How To Use Them Safely, accessed February, 2015.

Premierhand.com, Power Saw Injuries, accessed February, 2015.

Article by:

Anne Foy
www.arialblack.org